The number of "sticks" is different in everyone due to a number of factors, and I would say I had too many to count. I did, and still do have a media-port, and a pic-line at one point while hospitalized. It came handy not to get stuck all the time, have infusions with, including blood transfusions, even TPN, but sometimes they don't use it, even in the hospitals or when I go to have regular blood work done. I think one has to be trained in port access, and sometimes a sample needs to be taken directly from the vein like for blood typing, not sure, but that's what they did for me.

The other negative factor is risk of infection, sepsis, so access protocols need to be strictly adhered to. If the later occurs, they have to or should take out the port, which I vaguely remember being done, otherwise, I don't even know it's there. Good luck with everything.