Overcoming Injection Anxiety: Tips

If the idea of giving yourself a fertility injection makes your stomach turn, you’re not alone. As a fertility nurse, I’ve supported hundreds of patients through IUI, IVF, and egg freezing cycles, and one of the most common concerns I hear is, “I’m terrified of needles.” Whether it’s the fear of pain, the pressure to get the timing right, or simply not knowing what to expect, injection anxiety is extremely common and completely valid.

The good news is, with a bit of preparation and the right support, this part of your fertility journey doesn’t have to feel so overwhelming! It’s entirely possible to build confidence and ease into this process one step at a time.

One of the most helpful things you can do before your first injection is to familiarize yourself with the process. Often, it’s the unknown that fuels anxiety the most. Understanding what medication you’ll be using, how it needs to be prepared, where it’s administered, and whether it’s a subcutaneous or intramuscular injection can make a world of difference. Your clinic nurse should be providing you with a demo, but if you need further support, you can look into booking a one-on-one injection teaching session where we can go through everything together.

Creating a calm environment for yourself can also be incredibly helpful. Choose a space that’s clean and quiet, lay out your supplies beforehand so you don’t feel rushed, and try playing soft music or taking a few deep breaths to settle your nerves. The goal is to bring a sense of routine and ritual to something that might otherwise feel chaotic.

If the fear of pain is front and center, there are simple ways to reduce discomfort. Applying an ice pack to the injection site beforehand, using a numbing cream (with your clinic or pharmacist’s approval), or pinching the skin firmly before injecting can help minimize the sensation. Often, the anticipation is far worse than the actual poke.

Mindset also plays a big role in how we experience these moments. It’s easy to fall into negative self-talk—telling yourself that you’re bad with needles or that you’ll mess it up. But I always remind my patients: you are learning, and you are doing your best. This process is temporary, and every injection you do brings you one step closer to your goal! Reframing your thoughts with compassion can shift the entire experience.

Some patients feel more comfortable having a partner, friend, or nurse with them for their first injection. Others prefer to do it on their own. There’s no right or wrong—it’s about what makes you feel safest and most in control. If you're local to Toronto or surrounding areas, I offer both virtual and in-person injection support sessions so you never have to go through this alone.

For those experiencing more intense fear, a method known as exposure therapy can be surprisingly effective. This is a gentle, step-by-step approach used in psychology to help people face phobias in a controlled, empowering way. When applied to fertility injections, it might start with simply watching videos of the injection process, then gradually holding the syringe or pen, touching the needle to your skin without injecting, and practicing on a foam pad or even an orange. Eventually, once you're ready, you try the actual injection, ideally with support and guidance. The purpose of this approach is to slowly desensitize your brain’s fear response. This can take a couple of months and It’s not about rushing, but it’s about allowing your nervous system to feel safe at every stage.

The truth is, confidence doesn’t always come instantly. It builds over time with repetition, with support, and with the right tools in place. And if you’re not quite there yet, that’s okay too. You’re doing something incredibly brave. Learning to give yourself an injection isn’t just a skill, but it’s an act of self-compassion and strength in the face of something emotionally and physically challenging, so learn to give yourself grace and celebrate all the progress, no matter how big or small.

If you're feeling unsure or overwhelmed, know that help is available. I offer customized teaching and coaching sessions to walk you through the process step-by-step and make sure you feel informed, prepared, and supported from start to finish.

You don’t have to do this alone, and you shouldn’t have to.