Self insemination - Any success stories?!

Hi 😊 how are you all doing?

I'm supposedly 3dpo today so quite a long cycle with O at CD22 although BBT has been inconsistent and I'm suspicious that I'm further into my TWW than that so if my period comes early I won't be surprised.
Inseminated day before ovulation if going by BBT but roughly did every three days around suspected/potential O so we shall see 🤞🤞

@LuckyFlash I think that’s quite a normal amount. When you order donor sperm, you get less than that even (i have read too much about self insemination!). We never have morw than 2ml and it reduces per cycle.

I never manage to get rid of all air bubles, have not experienced any issues with that.

IUI is quite a good option for us actually, as neither of us has fertility issues. We might consider it in a month or two. I have had enough of trying and just really desperate for another DC now!

I always wish we had an obvious sign we were pregnant. I'd even settle for morning sickness starting straight away if I'm honest. I thought I'd ovulated two days ago but I'm not sure now so inseminating today but to be honest think that'll be it for us this cycle as if I haven't ovulated by now (CD21) I can't imagine an egg being any good if it does get released! Also I'm struggling a bit mentally this week and just don't think I can take any more right now.

@LuckyFlash hooray for your first insemination! I don't want to frighten you with the air bubble thing so I'm hesitant to answer. I THINK it's to do with an air bubble getting into the blood stream through the cervix which can be dangerous. I'd only be concerned about this if you were inserting past the cervix which you shouldn't be. I've rationalised this by thinking how much air must get pushed into the vagina during sex as there must be a small bit or we'd all get stuck together! I wouldn't worry about a few bubbles 😊
In regards to the TMI - my hubby produces between 1.5ml and 2.5ml. I think it depends how much he's into the... production process (😂)... As I read that can make a difference. He takes anti seizure medication which is part of the cause of his ED and lower production and lower sex drive. There are foods they can eat to increase production aren't there or have I made that up?Brazil nuts, walnuts, fish... 😊 Worth a try? Oh magnesium and zinc help I think? Not sure if my hubby can take those or if they can impact medication absorption.
When I worry I remind myself people get pregnant using the pull out method and from pre-cum and that's got to be much less than 1.5ml!

Interesting to hear about IUI I’ve never heard of it. Nice to know there’s another potential option that’s not straight to IVF.

We had our first insemination yesterday! All went well. Hopefully we’ll manage a few more goes before O as I think it’s still a few days away.

Question on air bubbles. I managed to get most of it in the syringe without much trouble but there was a tiny air bubble that I couldn’t get out. What’s the reason behind needing to get air bubbles out? I’m worried that will have affected things.

Also TMI but I’m interested to know if anyone is happy to share how much semen their partner managed to produce? Mine was only about 1.5ml. I’ve read that is the very bottom of normal and anti depressants can reduce semen quantity. I’m interested to know if this is something that other men with ED have or not

IUI is intrauterine insemination, so they stick a catheter through your cervix and inject the sperm straight into your uterus as opposed to normal sex/self-insemination, where you/your partner just deposit it in your vag or close to the cervix.

A bit like putting a coil in, I suppose. Though with cycle stimulation and things.
I thought the sperm was washed for this, because otherwise it can lead to infection (prob. Your vagina cleans any sperm for you before it reaches your uterus at all).

I thought they mainly used IUI to release sperm closer to their goal, i.e. when there are fewer (reduced count, as then fewer sperm will get destroyed from the outset which leaves more for fertilising the egg), if the woman destroys too many or if the man has issues with motility (ability to move, so sperm die before they even get anywhere).

how much I HATE*, not have haha

🤞🤞🤞

@AdriannaP looks like you're really looking to cover all your bases so you definitely can't blame yourself for not giving it your best - I so hope that it pays off for you and the rest of us really soon.

I'm currently being reminded of how much I have the TWW hahaha - I just hate the wait! I wish there was some way I could just check in with my uterus and find out right away if it's planning to grow a human within me soon LOL

🤞🤞🤞🤞

🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 For all of us

If there's nothing wrong with you or your partner then IUI makes more sense doesn't it? As you could do lots of more goes of that than IVF but hopefully you won't need to any way and this cycle is the one 🤞🤞

Around £700-£1000 per go. Fertility doc said I have a 25% chance with that (as have good and plenty eggs apparently)
He thought we should try IVF as the chances are higher for us and we can freeze embryos. But we really only want one more child and IVF js a lot more invasive and expensive.

That's interesting, it's funny to think about sperm being 'washed' first. It sounds like it makes everything a bit more efficient and likely to go well. Is it expensive?
I want a magic wand too; where do they sell those?! 😆

A few key differences:
Sperm will be “washed” and inseminated directly next to cervix
They monitor your ovulation and you get additional hormones to stimulate ovulation
So you are more likely to hit the right window.
That’s all! It’s just all so frustrating and I want a magic wand!

Omg 😱😱😱 'on a doctor's bed' sounds absolutely inappropriate and I can only apologise on the basis of not having had enough coffee.

@AdriannaP there will be no slaps on the wrist for you for testing early!! 😊 Just lots of support if there are negatives as I can imagine that's really hard to put yourself through. It's one thing to test because you want to but it's different that you have to. I don't know that much about IUI but is it much different to inseminating yourself except it happens on a doctor's bed?

Unfortunately I also have to test early every month as I have to start medication as soon as I know I am pregnant. So I start testing from 8DPO and it’s just so heartbreaking (and a huge waste of sticks). I have had dreams of BFP tests. :-(

Indeed @primrosechill we have been trying for a year since my last MC and then about a year before that 😭
I am considering paying for IUI now, my DH is not convinced self insemination will work. My DC1 is getting older and I am also not getting younger!

Haha thank you @MrsKin90 - you can give me a virtual slap on the wrist if I even think of testing earlier than next Thursday

@AdriannaP I know how frustrating it can get to see these BFNs - hang in there and take good care of yourself! We have been TTC since this Janury. We got pregnant in March in our third month of trying, miscarried in April, and now on the first round of insemination since the MC. This getting pregnant business is a serious thing and they definitely don't teach you what an emotional rollercoaster it can become!!

@MrsKin90 ovulating late is quite frustrating especially when dealing with ED - it’s hard to know when to start so you don’t miss it but don’t run out of steam too early! DH is up for having our first go tomorrow and we’ve discuss trying every other day until my temp rises - we’ll see how we get on

@AdriannaP I’m just using the cheap opks and they seem to work for me. Fingers crossed for you!

@MrsKin90 it really is. And the pressure of TTC is not making it easier. We have tried Viagra too.
I was pregnant a year ago but sadly had a MC. I also have an older DC and the age gap is growing. Every month I am so upset and depressed when AF comes. It’s hard to stay positive.

How long have you TTC?

@AdriannaP ED is so frustrating! It is all about timing though and loads of people get pregnant by accident just doing it once! Especially if all your tests are fine hopefully this works for you 🤞🤞

I absolutely started my reply at lunch time and never got chance to finish it and people have sent more messages since then 😆 long day.

@Lori23TTC I use a 5ml syringe 😊 I only need to do it once but I don't think it matters if you have to do more than once - I don't think it'll cause any damage. You could try using a bigger one next cycle if you think it might help but I'm sure it shouldn't make a difference.

@LuckyFlash welcome back! Goodluck with inseminating 😊 how often do you intend to do it? Glad to see someone else with later ovulation. I'm CD17 today and no O so far but have some quite bad pains in ovary area so fingers crossed it's in the next couple of days as usually around CD18-20.

@primrosechill I'm very pro-not-testing so can wag a finger at you if you wobble if you like! I'm well impressed with your insemination efforts!!

I am using a 5ml and also leave it in 10mins or so. I don’t use preseed anymore as so much was leaking out. I put some on the outside of the syringe though.
@LuckyFlash I am tracking with Clearblue (which had turned out very expensive so far) which shows 4 days. Due to my husband’s ED we can only really have 2-3 shots per cycle max. Quite frustrating sometimes. I am considering now paying for IUI. We had all the tests btw and everything was fine.

Personally I used 10ml just because for me they resulted in less leakage compared to 5ml which i tried the first couple of months. But whatever you can insert should be fine! I always used to leave the syringe in for 15/20 mins as well to stop leakage as much as possible as when I removed straight away I felt like loads came out straight away!

I personally use the 1ml syringe just because that's the only size that I can comfortably insert without major discomfort due to my vaginismus.

I do worry about whether the act of doing it multiple times (I usually do 2 syringes-worth per insemination) damages sperm but I tend to insert one, let gravity do its thing for a few minutes (by lying down with my bottom and legs raised) and do the second insertion afterwards. That way hopefully all the initially inserted sperm is already outside of the syringes' reach when I do it the second time... but who knows! :woman-shrugging: