Self insemination - Any success stories?!

Well, it's Friday and we live a global pandemic and we TTC so I thought you might need some entertainment… Here is my vaginal BBT chart! 🔥❄️🔥❄️
I know the times are not great because I just started a new job and I have been waking up between 4-6 depending on the day, but these are some rocky mountains!!

@primrosechill I think how much it lowers your chances depends on the sperm count and motility as well. If the count is low and a certain percentage gets damaged, I would imagine it would result in a significantly lower chance of fertilisation. But if the count is normal to high, the impact would be less significant. 🤷🏻‍♀️
Unfortunately it's not a well-researched method. If you're feeling particularly academic, there are a few articles with some promising results:

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?start=10&q=home+insemination&hl=en&assdt=0,5#d=gss_qabs&u=%23p%3DxKwZbeXmf7UJ

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&assdt=0%2C5&q=home+insemination&oq=home+i#d=gss_qabs&u=%23p%3DhITF6cQpuTAJ

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&assdt=0%2C5&q=home+insemination&oq=home+i#d=gss_qabs&u=%23p%3DIQzf6ctqZ1gJ

@eloiseislost and @primrosechill you’re right, completely common sense right! As is my husband who said the same thing-it does work and they do swim because you got pregnant!

It’s my brain trying to solve problems, and for me the thought of ‘did I do something/it’s my fault’

We did seven days straight of syringing so yes it works, it definitely works. As we know from this thread. It’s been the HUGEST support for me mentally ☺️🥰 We only did four syringes this time and two of those I mentally was switched off. This is my ‘meh’ month tbh.

I still haven’t started my period. I bled for two weeks with them days of spotting. I did Opk strips More by chance (supposed) cycle day 18 which was high, then day 19 which said peak. I honestly think my hormones are out of whack, and I’ve been hugely stressed. So I’m not testing. I’m a bit crappy and really spotty so I’m thinking period will come soon, got an absolute painful mount Vesuvius on the rim of my nostril, yay for hormonal spots 😂😭

@Oilyoilyoilgob I totally get it and I must admit that similar thoughts have crossed my mind, but I think @eloiseislost is spot on in that if sperm gets damaged in the process, it's likely not able to then make it to the egg in the first place. But I guess that in itself isn't ideal either - I do wonder what the impact is REALLY in terms of lowering chances, but then again I remind myself that a lot of medically-assisted conceptions rely on fairly similar methods and they are often very successful...

Eloise, love the enthusiasm haha! We should totally nerd it out and get some stats :D

@Oilyoilyoilgob First of all, a virtual hug! 🤗
I haven't experienced what you have experienced so I can only imagine the pain you felt and continue to feel, as well as your need for answers and some sort of closure.
Miscarriages are a bit of a mystery, actually pregnancy and birth are still to this day of modern medicine, a bit of a mystery.
If the syringing damages the sperm, the most likely outcome is that the sperm will not be able to fertilise the egg at all. Syringing cannot damage the sperm at DNA level, which is what would result in a non-optimal zygote that could be rejected by your body.
And you're right, our statistics from this platform are slightly skewed. Women who come here are women who have some sort of struggle to conceive, or experience miscarriage(s). On top of that, early pregnancy testing has increased our awareness of what seems to be a natural process of our body selecting only the best fertilised eggs.
So, don't blame yourself about this, as hard as it is. You were unlucky is all and, yes, it absolutely sucks. But you are strong and resilient; and your rainbow baby will be too! 🌈❤️

They're microscopic so the way I figure it, the ones on the edge of the sample are the most vulnerable to the method; hopefully the ones in the middle are swimming about completely oblivious to anything unnatural!

I've had an early miscarriage - around 5 weeks and a chemical pregnancy out of around 7 attempts. I'm about 7dpo on my latest attempt.

There are so many things that could be killing the sperm but I take heart from the two conceptions. My age is against me so it's more likely to be that than the method.

My donor deposits into the soft cup. I syringe most of it - having already inserted preseed, and then insert the softcup so that it catches anything useful and keeps it nearer the cervix.

I figure that out of millions of sperm, it only needs one, and so even if at every point some are dying off, as long as enough make it to where they need to be then I have a chance.

Thanks all!
Haha @eloiseislost I was honestly so confused at the idea of having to use that, I'm so glad I don't have to 😂😂😂

@primrosechill it’s something I’m very interested in. I said after early miscarriage to husband ‘could it be syringing’?
I worried that the sperm were damaged by it, it’s been on my mind. Sorry to make a gloomy comment but I’ve been ticking over it.

Then again miscarriages and chemical pregnancies do sadly have a high rate, looking online, so it could be as we’re documenting everything we are unfortunately getting to see real life versions of them 😟

@raindroplets You need a needless syringe, or a vaginal applicator. Any pharmacy should have these! Do not, I repeat, DO NOT use a turkey baster! 🤣 You also need a specimen cup, though I recently ran out and started using a small glass tub, which I sterilise with boiling water after every use. I found this site helpful when I was starting:
knowndonorregistry.com/library/health/how-to-inseminate-at-home.

@primrosechill That's a good point! If I'm feeling bored this weekend, I might scan through the thread and get some statistics! 🤓

Hi @raindroplets I use a 2.5ml syringe (without a needle of course) and a specimen cup. There are plenty of people on here who have been successful with this method including myself, though as with the "normal" way, there is sadly also a lot of stories of chemical pregnancies and MCs (I'm the latter).

I was thinking about this actually... Has anyone been keeping track of how many pregnancies we've had on here in the last few months and how many ended in chemical/MC? One thing I know for certain is that there isn't enough data/information about this method out there and I guess in a weird way we're conducting a bit of a research here ourselves haha...

@bitheby thank you! X

I use a calpol syringe and a softcup.

Please can I ask what everybody uses to insert the sperm using this method..? Literally a turkey baster? Or something else, e.g a syringe? I'm going out later today so wondered if it's something I could pickup whilst out x

Hi all - I hope you don't mind me jumping into this thread 💕

My DP and I have been TTC for 5 months, sadly having had a chemical pregnancy last month.
I have managed to pull a muscle in my lower back and so DTD the usual way is completely off the cards for us this month - and typically I'm ovulating TODAY! 🥺🤦‍♀️

So I have been searching the Internet like crazy and come across this method and would like to give it a try.

Any tips are much appreciated! Has this method worked for anybody else? Xx

I'm very sorry too Adrianna. How heartbreaking. Xx

@AdriannaP I'm so sorry, sending you lots of love x

@AdriannaP so sorry to hear about your news and I'm equally embarrassed because I have to say a part of me was slightly envious of how seemingly easily/quickly you managed to get pregnant the last couple of times - but then I remembered what it is like to have that hope and have it crushed, and I can't imagine what it must feel like to go through this three times in a row... I'm so so sorry. I hope you manage to take your mind off it at least for a while. TTC is so draining.

@Busybee93 glad to hear you have managed to make some progress with vaginismus! Yes please, send me your tips in a DM - I'm desperate to try new things!

@AdriannaP I'm so sorry. Please don't feel bad for any of the many emotions you are processing right now. I hope you can take some time just to look after yourself and recover your strength to whatever end you choose

@AdriannaP I’m sorry to hear this I hope you are ok ❤️ Sending you hugs x

@AdriannaP I’m ever so sorry to read this, my heart goes out to you. It’s normal to feel drained, shocked, depressed, sad and more-and that’s ok. You don’t have to feel that you have to have the strength to continue right now, save that for later and for now just try and look after yourself in this moment.

Wishing you some future days of looking after yourself, however that may be. Sending hugs xx

I'm so sorry @AdriannaP for all you are going through. It's normal to feel drained, the emotional toll a loss can have on a woman, no matter how early or late, is devastating. You will feel better in the future, regardless of how impossible this seems now, I promise you. And whether you decide to continue TTC or give up, I hope you find peace and happiness. Virtual hug 🤗

I spoke to my consultant yesterday, who said that implantation had happened for all those tests to show a faint line. He wanted me to come in for a blood test today. I don’t think there is any point as I have started cramping and spotting dark blood overnight.

This is my third eary loss/chemical in a row, and right now I am not sure I have the strength to continue. I have also spent thousands on a fertility consultant, tests, medicine, acupuncture and TCM. I feel drained.

Wishing you all the very best and lots of baby dust.

Aw thank you @eloiseislost and @Busybee93 ☺️ It’s a crappy time but they are 12.5 so expected that they’ll get ill. I just don’t want them to and want them to be with us forever ☹️ Yes Eloise he let me know thank you! I’m spoon feeding one as she has the cone of shame, I’m hoping lady 2 will accept the painkiller and pouch combo as easily 🤞🏻

We just used a cleaned Little porcelain bowl when we’d ran out of cups, and just kept the sperm warm. Even if the pharmacist just gives you one you can clean it in the dishwasher or in boiling water.

Busy you’re right and I’m going to wait at least nine days. Last month my ‘period’ came 9 days after my expected date and 5 days after my positive tests. So I said I’m waiting at least nine days next time to not go through that and hospital again-I’ve has enough of medical settings!

Eloise wishing lots of baby dust for tonight ✨✨✨