27 Items That Actually Helped During Infertility
Nobody tells you about the logistics of infertility treatment. The clinic covers the medical protocol, but they don't tell you about the daily reality of living through it—the injection pain, injection site bruises, the bloating that makes your jeans unwearable, the middle-of-the-night Google spirals, the emotional exhaustion.
I learned what actually helped through trial and error (mostly error). These aren't cure-alls or magic solutions. They're just things that made hard days slightly more bearable. Things that solved small problems so I had energy for the big ones.
This is the list I wish someone had given me before I started.
Full disclosure: some of these are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them (at no extra cost to you). I only recommend things I actually used and/or found helpful.
For Injections and Medications
Ice Packs (the soft, flexible kind)
Why it helped: Numbing the injection site before shots made them so much less painful. The flexible ones contour to your body better than the hard freezer packs.
How I used it: 5-10 minutes before each injection. Made belly shots and PIO shots bearable.
Where to find: Amazon, drugstore. I have one similar to this and love it for injections and other medical uses.
2. Lidocaine Patches
Why it helped: Numbing the PIO injection site beforehand helped with the pain and minimized my knots. The numbing patches helped. I used a prescription patch (Synera) for my first round. My nurse recommended OTC lidocaine patches for my next round. Much more affordable.
Where to find: By prescription, Amazon, or pharmacy
3. Heating Pad
Why it helped: For after egg retrieval, after other procedures before transfer, and during transfer prep after progesterone-in-oil (PIO) shots. For PIO, this helped the oil disperse and reduced the soreness and lumps in my hips.
How I used it: 15-20 minutes after each PIO injection. Also helped with cramping and general discomfort for procedures prior to transfer.
What to look for: One with automatic shut-off (so you can rest without worrying). This one is my favorite. Major G.O.A.T. in my house.
4. Small Sharps Container
Why it helped: Having a dedicated, safe place to dispose of needles immediately meant no panic about accidentally sticking myself or anyone else.
How I used it: Kept it right in my medication station. Made disposal automatic.
Where to find: Amazon, medical supply stores, some pharmacies. These were my favorite. Small, low profile. Easy to hide under the sink when not in use.
5. Alcohol Prep Wipes (bulk pack)
Why it helped: You go through these SO FAST. Buying a giant box meant one less thing to think about.
Reality check: You'll use 2-4 per day during stims. Stock up. I use these all the time. They are part of my subscribe and save.
Bonus: I still use them for cleaning my phone screen, cleaning up cuts and scrapes, and so many other things.
6. Small Insulated Lunch Bag
Why it helped: For traveling with refrigerated meds. Discrete, functional, kept medications at the right temperature.
How I used it: Appointments, work trips, dinner plans. Threw in an ice pack and didn't worry.
Bonus: Didn't scream "medical bag" if I left it sitting out. This is one of my favs.
7. Medication Organization Basket or Hanging Organizer
Why it helped: Having everything in one place—syringes, needles, alcohol wipes, medications, tracking sheets—meant no hunting around at injection time.
What worked: A hanging organizer that lived in my bathroom on the linen closet door—somewhere I passed daily (not hidden away).
8. Small Notebook & Pen (dedicated to IVF)
Why it helped: Tracking what I took when, writing down appointment results, noting side effects. When the nurse called with numbers, I had everything written in one place.
Why physical not digital: My phone died, apps glitched. Paper was reliable.
9. Bandaids (the fabric kind)
Why it helped: Some injection sites bled a little. The fabric ones stayed on better than plastic.
Not necessary but nice: Fun patterns made it slightly less clinical. I loved finding ones with cute patterns. It was something small to look forward to after the progesterone injections, especially.
For Physical Comfort
10. Elastic Waist Pants & Flowy Dresses
Why it helped: During stims, I bloated so much my regular clothes didn't fit, or they were uncomfortable. Elastic waistbands meant comfort without constant wardrobe changes.
What worked: Loose dresses, joggers, leggings with soft waistbands. Anything that didn't press on my ovaries.
Real talk: I lived in these for 2+ weeks.
11. Peppermint Tea/ Ginger Ale
Why it helped: Nausea and bloating were constant. Peppermint or ginger ale helped settle my stomach without medication.
Alternative: Ginger tea, but ginger ale worked better for me.
12. Epsom Salt
Why it helped: Warm baths with Epsom salt helped with soreness, cramping, and general discomfort. Also forced me to rest.
Caveat: Check with your clinic about baths during different phases.
For Emotional Survival
13. Therapy/Therapist Contact
Why it helped: Having someone to process with who understood medical trauma and grief was essential.
Real talk: This wasn't optional for me. It was survival. I was in a dark place after two retrievals and two failed transfers. This helped so much.
What to look for: Someone who specializes in infertility or medical trauma.
14. Journals/Notebooks for Feelings
Why it helped: When emotions were too big to hold, writing them down helped. No one had to see it.
How I used it: Stream of consciousness dumps. Not pretty, just honest.
15. Comfort TV Shows/Movies
Why it helped: Sometimes I needed to escape completely. Familiar shows I'd seen before meant no emotional surprises.
What worked for me: Gilmore Girls. Harry Potter. Nothing with surprise pregnancy plots.
16. Playlists for Different Moods
Why it helped: Music for crying, music for hoping, music for being angry, music for getting through injections.
How I used them: Matched my playlist to my mood instead of fighting what I felt.
17. Art Supplies/Craft Projects
Why it helped: Making something with my hands helped when everything felt out of control.
What worked: Crochet, coloring books, miniatures, whatever kept my hands busy.
For Practical Life
18. Meal Delivery Service or Frozen Meals
Why it helped: I had zero energy to cook. Having food ready meant I actually ate.
What worked: Meal delivery or meal ingredient service (I loved Hello Fresh) during stims, frozen meals stocked before retrieval. We found a local meal prep service for pre-prepared meals.
Real talk: This felt expensive but was worth it.
19. Refillable Water Bottle
Why it helped: Staying hydrated was crucial during stims. The time markers reminded me to actually drink.
What worked: 32-64oz refillable bottle. Some prefer one with hourly goals marked. I liked this one that I could refill throughout the day.
20. Portable Phone Charger
Why it helped: Monitoring appointments, waiting for calls, researching everything—my phone died constantly.
Peace of mind: Never missed a clinic call because my phone was dead. This one is similar to my favorite that is out of stock.
21. Calendar (physical or digital) Just for IVF
Why it helped: Tracking appointments, medication schedules, monitoring visits, important dates. Everything in one place.
What worked: Something I could see at a glance, with reminders. I printed a customized Word doc calendar during every cycle to record med days and times.
For Tracking & Organization
22. Medication Timer/Alarm System
Why it helped: Multiple meds at specific times. Alarms meant I didn't forget. I used my phone alarms, but an external alarm would also be great.
How I set it up: 30 min warning, actual time, 5 min reminder if I hadn't confirmed.
23. Printable Tracking Sheets
Why it helped: Checkboxes meant I knew for sure I'd taken something. No more "did I do that?" panic. I had areas to mark off on my printable calendar. As separate tracking sheet also works.
What worked: Simple daily log with checkboxes. I made my own.
24. Label Maker or Colored Tape
Why it helped: Labeling medications made grab-and-go easier. I love my Brother P-Touch. I am also an organization nerd.
When it helped most: When I was tired and couldn't think straight.
For Waiting Periods
25. Puzzle, Brain, or Board Games
Why it helped: During TWW and waiting for calls, mindless activity helped.
What worked: Jigsaw puzzles, sudoku, crosswords, phone games. I also got some board games to play with my partner. We love looking for them at our local thrift stores.
26. Adult Coloring Books
Why it helped: Meditative without requiring concentration. Good for anxious hands.
What to look for: Intricate patterns, calming themes and some nice colored pencils.
27. Fidget Toys
Why it helped: Waiting rooms, phone calls, moments of high anxiety.
What worked: Simple ones—nothing complicated or noisy.
What Didn’t Help (But People Suggested)
"Just relax" advice: Not helpful. Stress doesn't prevent pregnancy.
Essential oils for fertility: Maybe nice for relaxation, but not medical intervention.
Pineapple core: Internet myth. Eat it if you like it, but it won't impact implantation.
Standing on your head: Also no.
Positive thinking requirements: Hope is fine. Forced positivity is exhausting.
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None of these things made infertility easy. Nothing could do that.
But they made hard days slightly more manageable. They solved small problems so I could focus on surviving the big ones. They gave me tiny pieces of control when everything felt chaotic.
Your list might look different. What helped me might not help you. That's okay.
The goal isn't to buy your way through infertility—it's to give yourself whatever support you can, in whatever forms work for you.
You're doing something incredibly hard. You deserve whatever makes it even slightly easier.
Want a printable checklist of items to have before starting treatment? Download the free IVF Prep Checklist below!
