Can only speak to progesterone in sesame oil. I did them for a mock transfer, and then I was on them again pre-transfer and now post-transfer for about 3 weeks already. While the consistency is thick, I wouldn’t call it clumpy. It’s a thin oil (think oil cleanser, if you do facial double cleansing).

Some people use ice to numb the area, but I didn’t find it necessary. Honestly the anxiety about the shots was worse than the shot itself. Make sure you’re injecting in the right area. Have a nurse draw circles or watch some videos online. At this point the only thing that hurts is the initial jab. To me it’s a quick slightly painful prick, but it doesn’t last. If you have a partner helping you, have them insert the needle quickly but inject the oil slowly. Before my husband injects, I take the filled syringe and tuck it in my armpit for 10 minutes to get it up to body temp and help thin the consistency for easier injection. I’ve been doing 1mL daily and it takes my husband probably 10 seconds. Then he massages the area for 5-10 minutes. Before the FET, I would do 20 squats, 30 leg swings, lay on a heat pad for 10-15 min, then go for a short walk after each shot. This helps disperse the oil and prevents lumps. After the FET, I skipped squats and no longer use the heat pad, but I still do 30 leg swings and short walk. So far no lumps. There’s some soreness now that I’m in my 3rd week, but it isn’t terrible. The shots are much easier then the shots I had to take for ER, which included menopur which felt like injecting battery acid. With PIO I don’t even feel it being injected. And if it’s inserted in the right spot, it shouldn’t hurt much at all. You got this!!