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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Self insemination - Any success stories?!

968 replies

TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 15/01/2020 18:47

Hi everyone,

I have NC'd for this to save our blushes!
DH and I have just had our first round of IVF which was sadly unsuccessful after an early miscarriage.
We have 2 frozen embryos but we would like to TTC naturally for the next 6 month's first in the hope the IVF hormones might help boost our chances.
DH has always struggled to ejaculate inside me when DTD. Therefore we have decided to try self insemination in the hope it will take away some of the stress.

I would love to hear any success stories.

Also which insemination kit did you buy?

Has anyone tried a soft cup / Ferti Lily conception cup after inserting the syringe to help things along?

Thanks everyone!

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Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 15/03/2020 15:26

@H8624 - Thank you for your good luck wishes. I'm sorry to hear AF arrived. Try not to lose hope, I know it's easier said than done. But I keep thinking it only takes one egg and one sperm, surely it can't be beyond the realms of possibility!

Last time we managed 5 insems, and I'm hoping to do at least the same this month. It was my first time of using an ovulation kit and I never showed up as peak fertility so I don't know if that was because my hormone change was undetectable or whether I didn't actually ovulate, both possibilities listed in the instructions. I'm hoping I will peak this month but we're going to keep trying nevertheless.

Best of luck with cycle number 4 🤞.

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H8624 · 15/03/2020 13:37

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks good luck with this cycle!

AF arrived for me unfortunately so on to cycle 4 :(. Starting to lose hope now which isn't good!

This month I'm going to use pre seed to see if that helps at all! I am due to ovulate a week tomorrow so will be inseminating from Friday onwards I think so I hopefully have it covered!

How many Insems are you planning to do this month?

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 15/03/2020 07:52

Hi Ladies,

I'm just checking in with you all. How are things going?

@MissSparkles81, @ttcchapter1 and @H8624 - Any news? I hope you are all okay.

I've been doing the clearblue ovulation tests for the past week and I'm showing high fertility today so 2nd cycle 1st attempt in the process right now! Currently lying with my bum on a pillow. Maybe I'm going a bit woo woo, but for the first half an hour I led with my legs up in the air too just as an additional thing to try! Surely it can't hurt!

Please keep us all posted on how things are going and any news. Good luck everyone 🤞

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MissSparkles81 · 04/03/2020 19:18

Wow you ladies are amazing doing all those inseminations!! Im seriously impressed. Im currently in my 2ww at 4 days po.

I ovulated early this month which was a pain but we did manage one babydance. The cycle we conceived last time we only done it the once so hoping for some luck again this month.

ttcchapter1 · 04/03/2020 12:29

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks

I know! We both had time off this week so thought we’d go for it as much as we can, I don’t use a mooncup and I don’t tend to O after. I try doing some pelvic floor exercises but thats mainly because im bored by lying down for 30 odd minutes!

Really hope you have a good month next month too!

Af is due around 14/15th so just a waiting game now. I hate the disappointment of my af coming though and i feel like i feel guilty because my DH wants this as much as I do 😭 but im probably just over thinking it.

I didn’t use preseed everytime so i hope thats not a bad thing!

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 04/03/2020 12:23

@ttcchapter1

Wow, that is dedication! I really hope this is your month x

We managed 5 inseminations in the space of 12 days and that was a real struggle with our work schedules! We need to up our game!
AF has just been and gone so we will be gearing up for cycle 2 soon!

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ttcchapter1 · 04/03/2020 09:45

Inseminated 8 times in the past 10 days 😭 please pray this is my month. Hope everyone else is doing well!

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 01/03/2020 06:25

@MissSparkles81 - Thank you 🤞!

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MissSparkles81 · 29/02/2020 15:29

@turkeybasterhopeitworks sorry to hear that AF has arrived! Fingers crossed for next month.

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 29/02/2020 15:23

@H8624 - Thank you for the advice.
I agree the clear blues are really expensive. I found Groupon to be the best price at £25 for a 20 test stick kit.
Best of luck with your TWW, I know this is such a difficult time but fingers crossed!

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H8624 · 29/02/2020 14:17

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks I don't hold for 4 hours but I try for 2-3 I basically don't drink anything for the morning. It's the only time I have had a peak. But I only do this when the cheapies I use have a clear line to try and ration the CB test sticks!. I use the CB advanced as well. They are good but expensive especially if you don't get a peak and keep testing!

I bought the cheapies from eBay - about £3 for 30 which lasts a couple of months that I use alongside the CB.

Not liking the TWW! 3dpo and I just want to know either way 😂

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 29/02/2020 13:43

Plus.... sorry if this is TMI!......
But I didn’t orgasm after each self insemination attempt. Do you all tend to do this? Blush
I’m wondering if this could be a vital missing component!

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Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 29/02/2020 13:40

Hi @H8624 - Thank you for your message.

I am using the clear blue advanced digital ones using my FMU.
That’s interesting to know about testing again at lunchtime. Do you tend to hold on for 4 hours if testing at lunch time? The instructions say the urine needs to be held for at least that length of time. I’m not sure I could hold on that long in the day time!!
I tested as high fertility for 10 days straight with clear blue and then AF arrived.
I’ve not noticed CM, but thanks for the advice on this.
I’ve ordered another clear blue advanced kit to try next cycle but I might also buy some cheapies and try them too as you suggest.
Thanks again Smile

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Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 29/02/2020 13:25

Hi @SundayGirlB - That’s so good to hear, congratulations on your 9 month old. I hope you both have a chance to catch up on your sleep this weekend!

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H8624 · 29/02/2020 08:32

@turkeybasterhopeitworks sorry to hear AF arrived but good luck on your next cycle!

I am now 3dpo according to FF and apparently I ovulate on the same day as my peak OPK! This is based on temp rises.

Are you using the clear blue ones with FMU? I usually use those and also cheapies (one steps) after I get High on that. However I find that I don't get a Peak with FMU, but when my cheapies start getting dark (almost positive) if I test again at lunchtime that's when I get my peak. I read that for some people the LH builds up later so FMU wouldn't catch it! I also have about 5 days of high before me peak as well so stick with it! Do you notice CM on the day around your highs as well? That can be a good sign that you ovulate as well?

SundayGirlB · 29/02/2020 05:02

Hey, DH has similar problems. We used a syringe and a moon cup. Two pillows under hips for 30mins. Took 10 months but here we are both up at 4am with our 9 month old Grin.

Hoping to try for another in a year or so.

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 29/02/2020 04:17

@H8624 - That's a good idea with 2 pillows under your hips. I've found that one goes a bit flat after a while!

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Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 29/02/2020 04:14

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all doing okay.

AF arrived for me yesterday Sad. We can't really be too down about it though because it was only our first month of trying with self inseminating.
One good thing is that my cycle was quite short this time around at 25 days (I have irregular cycles) so at least it means we can start TTC again sooner than we thought.
I'm wondering if I didn't actually ovulate on this cycle though because the test kit only ever showed me as having 'High' fertility and never 'Peak'. The instructions say it could either mean no ovulation that cycle or the hormone changes were too subtle to detect between high and peak.

Oh well, at least we've learned lots of things from the first cycle, we are treating it as a practice run, roll on cycle 2!

Good luck everyone, please keep the updates and advice going. It's so good knowing we're not alone.

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H8624 · 27/02/2020 18:47

I've found I have a lot less leakage if i have 2 pillows under my hips rather than one. Still some but that's inevitable I think!

I also lay for 20 mins not sure if that helps or not!

@ttchapter1

ttcchapter1 · 27/02/2020 12:18

I haven’t tried a softcup yet, I mean people who conceive naturally don’t use one so I don’t see it being an issue if I don’t use one. I dont want to add the things i have to think about 😂

ttcchapter1 · 27/02/2020 12:16

@HappyExteriorSadInterior thanks for the reply and yeah I hope it’s not an issue.

With the air bubbles thing, what my partner does is when he’s putting the sperm into the syringe he pulls it up slowly so it doesn't get too much air then I hardly have any air bubbles or anything. That way we don’t have to worry about pushing any air bubbles out. I think that works for us.

HappyExteriorSadInterior · 27/02/2020 12:02

Hi @ttcchapter1
I haven't really noticed much leakage. I tend to leave the syringe in place for about 20 minutes before removing it. I spend as much time as possible with a pillow underneath my bum. Sometimes staying 2 hours like that or going to sleep afterwards.
I wouldn't worry too much about leakage, I would think most of it will stay where it needs to be. Have you tried using a soft cup? I haven't tried using one yet.

One question I have is bubbles in the syringe. I try to slowly push out as much air / bubbles as I can but there are always lots of little ones still there. If I try and push any more out I start losing the fluid. Do you find this also?
I'm just wondering is it bad if small bubbles are left and they go inside. I don't know how else to get rid of them. Confused

ttcchapter1 · 27/02/2020 10:55

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks doing the exact same method as you with the syringe, do you experience leakage afterwards? I know its supposed to be normal but I’m so paranoid that my leakage is more then usual?

Mycrazylife85 · 18/02/2020 19:30

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks thank you so much again for your really helpful reply! It's so much appreciated! Good luck ladies! For me my GP appointment is tomorrow so I'm hoping for some movement and a referral fingers crossed 🤞

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 18/02/2020 18:52

Hi @firsttimemumhere
Thank you for your post, I will have a look at the Dr Fertility website.

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