Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
34
ttcchapter1 · 10/02/2020 14:05

@mrsc1987

Its so nice to hear this! Congratulations and thanks for the encouragement ☺️

mrsc1987 · 09/02/2020 19:50

Another here that this has worked for using a syringe, it took us 6 months of trying but im 21 weeks pregnant expecting a little boy, keep at it it deffo works and takes alot of pressure off too.

mrsc1987 · 09/02/2020 19:43

Another here that this has worked for using a syringe, it took us 6 months of trying but im 21 weeks pregnant expecting a little boy, keep at it it deffo works and takes alot of pressure off too.

marshallrubblechaserockyzoomer · 09/02/2020 19:32

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks

I think you should do it as many times as you can rather than just 3. Do you track ovulation? As that is a huge factor in TTC. I would self inseminate 2 days before ovulation, ovulation day and 2 days after as a minimum!

MissSparkles81 · 09/02/2020 15:37

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks thanks lovely. I hope it works for you too.

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 09/02/2020 10:16

Hi @ttcchapter1 and @MissSparkles81

Thank you for your posts, it’s really useful to hear your stories. It would be great to hear how you both get on. Best of luck.

Hi @cookielove
Thank you for your post and advice, this is really helpful.

OP posts:
cookielove · 08/02/2020 20:07

I have never self inseminated but i have had lots of issues with ttc. My advice is to:

Put a towel over the pillow.

I would often lie flat on the bed with legs up, bum on pillow and legs leaning on the wall, with my phone to keep me occupied.

Don't be to worried if stuff comes out after you stand up.

Sperm does live up to seven days in you!

Good luck xx

bitheby · 08/02/2020 19:53

I'm due probably 15th/16th so I'm on a similar timetable too. My cycles are shorter than yours. Around 26 days.

ttcchapter1 · 08/02/2020 19:51

@MissSparkles81

Yes we seem to be, my cycles are around 31 days average according to my clue app which ive been using 2 years and my AF is due on 14th! But not had any major symptoms, my first cycle ttc was last month and i felt like i had all the symptoms under the sun but this time i have some tender breasts and dizzyness but no idea if its due to conception or not

MissSparkles81 · 08/02/2020 19:36

@ttcchapter1 it sounds like we are at similar stages in our cycle. Mines are 30-31 days usually.

MissSparkles81 · 08/02/2020 19:35

Hi Ladies ... I am another convert to this method as my bf struggles to maintain an erection when we are dtd.

We managed x2 insemintions this window and 1 babydance but that was 7 days before ovulation so not counting it really.

Currently 8days po with not any symptoms to report apart from tender boobs but fullh aware that could be AF getting ready to visit.

I am not testing unless period is late as i had a mc in November at 8 weeks and its just too painful to see that negative test.

I am looking forward to following everyones journeys using this method ❤

ttcchapter1 · 08/02/2020 17:27

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks

So nice to finally read this on a recent post. I’m 8/9 dpo after my first time trying this method. Did it three times during fertile period using preseed. So really hoping it worked.. doubt it did first time but here is hoping 🙈

I ordered oral medicine syringes and put the preseed inside first and then waiting before putting the liquidised sperm in. Then was lying down using pillows to stay elevated for around 30 mins. On one of the occasions I even used the long tubing putting it in as far as I could and then syringing the preseed and sperm through it. But i had a lot of watery cm after this so didnt do it the two other times (just used the syringe on its own)

🙈

bitheby · 08/02/2020 13:04

This time I'm having the donation straight into the cup and not bothering with the syringe. Again, I did that the first time and ended up with loads of air bubbles and some left behind in the pot!

bitheby · 08/02/2020 13:03

The Flex Cups I use which are the same as Soft Cups in design sit near the cervix so I'm using them. The reusable menstrual cups sit much lower in the vagina and so don't do much to help the sperm get to where they need to go.

I used it for my first cycle and just ended up with a load of stuff sitting in the cup. My second attempts using the flex cups were much better and there was less left behind, hopefully only seminal fluid and no sperm.

I'm using a donor so it's all quite a big logistical operation to meet up. In your situation you can experiment with different techniques to see what works for you.

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 08/02/2020 12:20

Hi @bitheby , Thank you for your messages. That's a good tip re: temperature of the preseed I didn't think of that. I had just read somewhere that it might be helpful to put some in the pot first to help with the syringing up and to make conditions better for the sperm. I thought I would also put some preseed on the syringe itself to help it along the way.

I haven't planned to use ovulation strips only because the consultant didn't seem to think they are worthwhile. (This was the first time I had heard this). But I know many people find them helpful.
Plus I understand sperm can stay alive for up to 7 days once inside so I'm hoping this is the case!

Best of luck to you, yes please keep me posted. 🤞🤞🤞

OP posts:
bitheby · 08/02/2020 11:56

Also I'm using OPK strips to detect the surge that happens before ovulation. This will help you with the timing.

bitheby · 08/02/2020 11:55

Just be aware of temperatures. The preseed will be cold unless you warm it and could kill off sperm. I put the fertility gel inside me so it warms up and then the Flex Cup with the semen in it into me which goes through the fertility gel to get into place.

I'll let you know in a week if it worked!!

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 08/02/2020 11:41

Update!

I have just finished my period and so DH and I are planning to start self insemination this week!
Have bought syringes and pots and preseed. Plan is to put a small layer of preseed into pot first, DH to do the biz (!) in the pot then I'll syringe it up and insert. I've read the best thing is to slowly empty the syringe and leave in place for a while, I'm thinking 10 minutes before removing. I intend to prop up my bum on a pillow for half an hour afterwards.
Our plan is to do this twice a week and hope for the best!
I have irregular periods so we aim to keep trying this and test after a month unless I have a period by then (hopefully not!).
Fingers crossed!

Any more tips and or success stories would be great to hear!

OP posts:
Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 21/01/2020 10:16

Bump!

OP posts:
Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 20/01/2020 18:12

Hi @kikibo ,
Thank you for your message, this is really helpful. I'm so glad to hear it worked 3 times for you.

OP posts:
Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 20/01/2020 18:08

Hi @transformandriseup ,

Thank you for your message, don't worry it's not too much detail, the more information the better!
I'm definitely going to try the soft cup idea.

OP posts:
kikibo · 20/01/2020 10:28

Yes, worked three times for us.

Hubby has ED too.

We used an insemination syringe and a pot which I just rinsed with water the day after. We didn't use a soft cup or anything, but I always inseminated before bed, to limit back flow but also so I didn't have to lie there waiting.

I propped my bottom up with two pillows.

Other than that, we used ovulation tests mainly because pregnancies were close together and because of planning/time, I didn't want to constantly inseminate for fear I'd miss my fertile days. First pregnancy (when I was still regular like clockwork) worked on the 7th attempt. Other two on second.

transformandriseup · 20/01/2020 10:08

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks
Hi Turkey sorry I didn't see you had replied. The brand we used was Instead Soft Cups which I bought from Amazon. We put a bit in the the actual cup too and then pinched the opening together and fed it in and then opened it flat against the cervix. I think I then left it in for 12 hours. It didn't hurt and you can easily forget it is there. Sorry if too much detail but it's hard to explain other wise.

Original poster
TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks · 19/01/2020 17:22

Hi @PlomBear ,
I am sorry to hear you have had similar difficulties, but very pleased all your fertility tests are fine.
I think it is a good sign that your DH is okay for months at a time. (My DH sadly has this difficulty almost all of the time).
Perhaps you can alternate between DTD naturally as and when things are working well and self inseminating?
Please don't feel concerned by the 'everybody else is having lots of sex' thing. I think the issues we have discussed on here are much more common than we realise.

OP posts:
PlomBear · 19/01/2020 10:34

DH is having trouble maintaining erections and I have finally persuaded him that we need to try for a baby!

It works for months at a time, DTD twice a week. Then it doesn’t work! His GP gave him viagra which seems to work most of the time. But the past couple of days it’s not working at all. Fertility tests have all been fine.

So looks like we may go down the self-insemination route. Just frustrated that we can’t be like everybody else, having lots of sex!