What is meant by the IVF night shot? During IVF treatment, the follicles grow to a certain stage and we need a special medication to promote the final maturation of the oocytes, which is the last and most crucial step in IVF ovulation. This medication is chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or short-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a), and the injections are usually scheduled at night, hence the name “night shot”. The egg retrieval procedure is performed about 36 hours after the night injection. When should I have the night shot? The timing of the night shot is very important and needs to be determined down to the exact time and minute. If the injection is given too early, the oocytes will have a high percentage of immature nuclei and cytoplasm and their developmental potential will be affected. Injected too late, the oocytes may already be overripe, also increasing the risk of elevated progesterone and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Generally, your doctor will take into account your follicle size, hormone levels, the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and a number of other factors to determine the exact timing of night injections. Why are night injections different for each patient? Each patient’s reason for infertility, ovulation protocol, number of follicles and hormone levels are different, so the medication and dose of night injections will be different. What are the precautions for night injections? Be sure to bring your outpatient medical record, injection form and medication with you on the night of the night injection, and follow the injection time as explained by the nurse at the emergency room on the second floor of our new outpatient building or at a regular hospital such as a community hospital. After you receive the night injection, put it in the refrigerator and keep it cold. If you are far away from home, use an ice pack to keep it during the road trip. Please do not change the specific time of the night injection at will or inject the night injection in an irregular medical institution, in case of special circumstances the time of the injection is early or postponed by ten minutes does not affect much. If you forget to take the night injection, please contact the medical staff as soon as possible, and we will try our best to help you remedy the situation. A vaginal douche will be performed in the afternoon of the day of the night injection to prepare for the egg retrieval procedure the day after.