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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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Thread gallery
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firsttimemumhere · 18/02/2020 12:14

Just to say the website dr Fertility is great for ovulation kits etc. That's were I got most things whilst we were ttc. We were trying self insemination for a while but my partner had a lower sperm count until he quit smoking so it took us a lot longer than we would have liked. Good luck to you all!

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 18/02/2020 09:09

Sorry, meant to write 'it's a bit fuzzy'!

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Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 18/02/2020 09:07

Hi @Mycrazylife85

That's our thinking too, it's worth a try!

The testing kits are so expensive.
I bought the Clear Blue advanced digital kit. It seemed to be a better price from Groupon. I've attached a picture, sorry it's a be fuzzy! It is simple to use and the instructions are clear.
Good luck.

Self insemination - Any success stories?!
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Mycrazylife85 · 18/02/2020 07:40

Thank you for your reply @TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks I think we would do the same. It's better than nothing after all! I haven't had a positive OPK this month but I'm currently CD23 and I couldn't say how long this cycle will be. I ovulated CD22 last cycle My temperature chart looks like the peaks of the Alps. 😔 up then down everyday. I did wonder about investing in Clear Blue when I thought I'd become more regular but on a 89 day cycle it'll hurt £ a little. Which ones did you go for? I noticed there were about three different ones when I looked.

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 18/02/2020 03:28

Hi @Mycrazylife85 ,

We haven't discussed the self insemination with the fertility clinic. We had one cycle which failed. We have 2 frozen embryos but we have decided to wait for a few months before going for a second cycle whilst we try 'naturally'. We were too embarrassed to mention the self insemination part at the fertility clinic!🙊 We just said we would try ourselves for a few months!

I'm glad to hear things have improved since coming off the pill. If twice a week is manageable I would think that would be fine. Maybe you could consider trying the self inseminating method on occasion if sex becomes too much some weeks.

I have been using the clearblue ovulation testing strips and I was pleased to see a flashing smiley face yesterday! A while back I previously used the boots own strips and I never once showed any hormone surges so I am pleased that clearblue has worked this time!
Having an irregular cycle made it difficult to know when to start testing so I just picked a day and went for it, I'm so glad I bought the kit now after great advice received from other MNer's!

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Mycrazylife85 · 17/02/2020 19:14

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks do the fertility clinic know you'll be self inseminating? Or will you do both? I think we'll look to do both, I just honestly can't imagine being able to do it 'normally' 3 times a week but twice is manageable. I'd say my issues are better since coming off the pill. I did go and see a gyne doctor years ago who asked me if o planned on having any children then said to me that if I did, "it'll all be very different down there afterwards anyway, so I wouldn't bother" (having surgery).

doesn't help DH is, ummmm, particularly huge Blush I'm generally okay after but when that regular it's a tad ouch

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 17/02/2020 08:39

Hi @Mycrazylife85 ,
Thank you for your post.
When we went through IVF last year and it sadly failed, we spoke to the consultant about trying ourselves for a few months before going for IVF again. She said DTD 2 to 3 times a week is recommended because of sperm levels needing time to recover inbetween.

I too have long and irregular cycles so I know how difficult it can be.

I'm sorry to hear you are so sore.
Could you ask a GP for advice on anything that you could use to help heal things internally and makes things more comfortable?
Take care x

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Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 17/02/2020 08:28

Hi @H8624,
Welcome, thanks for joining the thread.
Good luck I hope cycle 3 is the lucky one!

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Mycrazylife85 · 17/02/2020 08:09

I'm following this. I've been advised to dtd every other day Been ttc using OPKs since jan 3019. I have very irregular cycles, 37-89 days and find dtd uncomfortable if it's at this rate. I'm still mending from Saturday and absolutely cannot do it again so soon, I couldn't even contemplate a tampon😳. I'm sore and worry I'll risk infection. I have a history of tearing. Will watch this with hope

H8624 · 16/02/2020 21:09

Can I join you on the thread please? Hubby and I have been trying this method to conceive as well. I have short but regular cycles of 24 days. Ovulate around day 13/14 usually so I have quite a short luteal phase! And I spot a few days prior to AF.

We've been using the cup and syringe method. This month (cycle 3) will be next week and I think I'm going to try conceive plus as well!

It's nice to read some positive stories as I was losing hope after 2 unsuccessful months (altho I know that's not long to have been trying!)

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 15/02/2020 23:42

Hi MissSparkles81, I am sorry to hear today has been a bad day. I hope you feel better in the next couple of days. The cramps don’t seem to get any easier to deal with.
That’s a great tip with the testing, thank you x

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MissSparkles81 · 15/02/2020 14:55

Thank you @TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks really feeling sorry for myself today plus the cramps are really painful. Its a day for hiding in the house for sure!

In terms of testing for ovulation I always start testing from the day after my period finishes. I bought the wondfo tests from amazon and then when they start to darken I also the clearblue digital aswell.

Hope that helps a wee bit xx

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 15/02/2020 02:40

Hi @MissSparkles81 , I am sorry to hear of your BFN. I really hope the next cycle is the one. Don’t give up hope, I know it’s really tough especially after a MC.

Just a little update, the ovulation kit arrived yesterday so I am going to start using this.
The problem I have is that my periods have been very irregular for the past year. I can’t follow the recommended days to start testing because I don’t know how long my cycle will be each time.
I’m just going to keep testing from today onwards and see what happens!
I’m up at stupid o’clock because my sleep patterns are all over the place lately! The joys of shift work!

Good luck everyone, please keep posting on here it’s really good to hear from you all.

(Just as an aside, why is all this fertility stuff so bloody expensive???! Ovulation kit was £25, pre-seed £18, decent pregnancy tests at least £10 and it goes on. Something tells me because it is women’s health related they think they can ramp up the prices and we will all just pay it because we have little choice Sad).

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MissSparkles81 · 14/02/2020 17:34

As I suspected it was another BFN this morning. Since my MC my cycles and symptoms have been so random.

MissSparkles81 · 13/02/2020 19:50

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks good luck lovely. We pretty much used the exact same process only without the preseed. I hope this is your month!

Im pissed off with my body ... AF due tomorrow and been having cramps every day since day 7/8 po. Just want it to hurry up and arrive so I can move on.

Will do another test in the morning just to be sure but not got my hopes up at all.

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 13/02/2020 10:42

Update!

DH and I made our first attempt at self insemination this morning.
I thought I'd jot down the process we used, sorry if it's TMI! 🙉🙊

I put a small amount of preseed in the pot first. DH produced his 'sample' in the pot. We kept the tube/preseed at body temperature. I applied some preseed around my vajayjay. After about 10 minutes I syringed up the 'fluid'. I slowly pushed out as many of the air pockets as possible in the syringe. I could still see small bubbles in there but didn't want to risk pushing any more because fluid was starting to come out and I didn't want to risk wasting any.
I put some more preseed all over the outside of the syringe.
I already had my bum on a pillow. I then gently inserted the syringe as far as possible and slowly emptied it. I kept the actual syringe in place for half an hour and then removed it.
I stayed lying on the pillow for over an hour.
We'll see what happens! We aim to keep doing this 2 to 3 times a week. I have ordered an ovulation kit to try and will start using this too in the hope we can pin point timings better.

Good luck to everyone else who is currently trying this method. It would be great to continue hearing hints, tips and success stories.

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Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 12/02/2020 21:35

Hi @firsttimemumhere ,
Thank you for your post. Congratulations on your baby, I'm so glad this method worked for you, it gives us all hope!

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Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 12/02/2020 21:32

@MissSparkles81 - I'm sorry to hear about your BFN. I hope next month is your month x

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firsttimemumhere · 12/02/2020 18:34

Hi, we had the same problem, and used self insemination and we now have a 15 week old. We used preseed lubricant and a home insemination kit from Ebay with a catheter to insert it as close to the cervix as possible.

MissSparkles81 · 12/02/2020 18:32

Thanks @mrsc1987 ❤

Its not looking good for me this month. I caved and done a test last night and it was a BFN 😔 2 days till AF arrives and I am gutted.

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 11/02/2020 00:20

Thank you mrsc1987, this is really helpful advice. Especially re: body temperature and the orgasm!
Fingers crossed!

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mrsc1987 · 10/02/2020 22:39

Thank you, wishing you all the luck and hope it works for you too. Honestly we didnt do anything different that month, we did three tries over ovulation, the day before, on the day and the day after and then relaxed as much as possible. I kept my hips elevated after for about 30 mins, have an orgasm after you've inseminated as it helps, we used pre seed by adding it to the cup first and keeping it at body temp, let the sperm liquidise for about 15 mins and keep it held so its kept at body temperature before inserting. Relax as much as possible. Good luck

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 10/02/2020 18:45

Hi @mrsc1987 ,
Thank you for your messages. Congratulations to you both on your pregnancy. I hope everything goes really well.
It's lovely to hear it worked for you. I think it will definitely help take the pressure off my DH using this method.
As others have said, please let us know if you have any advice or thoughts on what might have worked for you on your last cycle.

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Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 10/02/2020 18:40

Hi @marshallrubblechaserockyzoomer ,

Thanks for your message.
2 to 3 times a week is the recommended amount because the sperm levels need to recover inbetween!
I wasn't planning to track ovulation because our consultant seemed to think it isn't accurate. But on reading lot's of positive things about other people's success with it I'm going to try it for a couple of months. I'm thinking it can't hurt to try it!

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MissSparkles81 · 10/02/2020 16:46

@mrsc1987 wow huge congratulations! So glad to hear a success story. I was just wondering if you did anything different the cycle that you conceived in? Or if you have any tips in general?