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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

Home insemination

245 replies

FSGirl · 15/09/2023 20:14

Wondering if anyone has experience with this?
DH and I are TTC our second but he has been struggling with work and family stress - high pressure role and family illness. We both want this badly but DH is feeling some performance pressure and not ejaculating / losing erection during sex. It’s frustrating for us both when I’m ovulating and really get us both down.
I just wondered if anyone had successfully tried home insemination? I think it’s a good idea so we can be a bit more spontaneous with sex and take any pressure off but reassured that we have more chance of conceiving by adding this into the routine.
I have bought some bits off amazon (flat head syringes, “specimen” cups 😂and a cheapy conception cup type thing)
any hand holding / reassurance / experiences greatly appreciated.
It feels strange and clinical to be considering it but I am a bit hormone baby crazy and willing to give anything a go, but feel a bit embarrassed talking to anyone IRL about it because of taboo around ED.

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Original poster
FSGirl · 29/09/2023 17:04

thanks @LavenderSweetPea Yes just been reading up that a faint line is a negative - I thought no line was negative so clearly getting over excited!
my app says fertile period should start Tuesday so I will hold my horses.

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LavenderSweetPea · 29/09/2023 16:56

@FSGirl don't try it too soon though if the ovulation test was negative!

Original poster
FSGirl · 29/09/2023 16:44

So had a very short period and out of morbid curiosity and not because I am getting obsessed I did an ovulation test (first time doing one as I’ve normally just relied upon my phone app) and had a super faint line! I’ve been poorly the last few days so no better excuse to try with the cup and syringe method!

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TeddyBeans · 25/09/2023 18:46

FSGirl · 25/09/2023 17:37

@TeddyBeans out of interest, is a fertilily a bit like the menstrual cups? I bought a cheapy version as I had read people using them to catch extra semen but wasn’t sure it would be necessary if I did the hips raised technique anyway (which I am planning on doing!!)

Yeah basically! It's quite a bit shallower than a menstrual cup to keep the semen as close to your cervix as possible but I don't see why a cup (if you still want to use it) and hips raised wouldn't do a very similar job anyway

Gkb90 · 25/09/2023 17:44

@FSGirl yes please! Let me know how you get on, I’ve honestly feel like I’ve tried so many things that this is my last resort, I bought the fertilily conception cup and it was just too messy and didn’t work for me so hoping I’m more successful with this way fingers crossed

Original poster
FSGirl · 25/09/2023 17:37

@TeddyBeans out of interest, is a fertilily a bit like the menstrual cups? I bought a cheapy version as I had read people using them to catch extra semen but wasn’t sure it would be necessary if I did the hips raised technique anyway (which I am planning on doing!!)

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Original poster
FSGirl · 25/09/2023 17:35

@TeddyBeans thanks for letting us know! That’s really good to hear and I’m glad the sistema pot got a new lease of life - i am all up for recycling but absolutely the calpol syringe was destined for the bin 😂

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Original poster
FSGirl · 25/09/2023 17:21

Hi @Gkb90 no you’re very welcome to chime in and I’m glad finding it was useful to you! My AF is in progress so got a little bit of a wait til my first go but hoping I can update after the first few attempts!!!
let us know how you get on too!!

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TeddyBeans · 25/09/2023 05:19

Hola found this thread after giving DD7m a bottle because she's poorly and has kept me awake all night 🥴🥴 there's a 3 in 5 chance she was conceived this way! We used a Calpol syringe (now discarded!) And a little sistema pot (thoroughly cleaned and currently holding small screws in a tool box). I tried using a fertilily but it didn't work for me, found it messy and unreliable. Wasted a couple of cycles trying to perfect the technique. Good old pillow under the hips for 15 minutes! Didn't know about leaving it to liquify, we did it straight away and I made sure to orgasm as it's supposed to help things along. Best of luck to you!

Gkb90 · 25/09/2023 04:33

Hi everyone, hope you don’t mind me chiming in but I’ve ordered the TwoPlus AI kit to try my next cycle, so happy I found this tread and seeing all the success stories! Now I can’t wait for my AF to arrive this week so I can get trying!! Hope everyone is getting on well xx

moosey89 · 17/09/2023 18:03

@FSGirl should be in 6 or 7 days time, so not too long to go!

Original poster
FSGirl · 17/09/2023 17:51

@moosey89 I think the first week in October so I will keep you posted, but I also have some of the ovulation sticks to start being more precise because at the moment I’m using my iPhones cycle tracker. Which seems to be quite accurate but when we’re talking cups and syringes I’m going to want to be ever more certain!! How about you?

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moosey89 · 17/09/2023 17:27

@FSGirl good luck! When does ovulation hit for you?

Original poster
FSGirl · 17/09/2023 17:10

Also my “kit” (random bits and pieces off amazon!) has arrived so just need to wait to get next AF out the way and FSGirl insemination lab is open for business 😂

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moosey89 · 17/09/2023 17:10

@FSGirl I'm glad, me too! I am keeping everything crossed we all get BFPs soon ☺️

Original poster
FSGirl · 17/09/2023 17:09

That gives me hope @moosey89 !!

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moosey89 · 17/09/2023 17:02

@mosiacmaker TwoPlus says leave it for 20min to liquidise.

@CurlyWurly1991 same issue for my other half! Not an issue at all when not TTC but kinda makes the process difficult 😂🙈 I'd say 90+% of the time he doesn't finish so there's no point in even putting him in such a stressful position when there's a good alternative ☺️ my accupuncturist actually thinks it's better than sex because the sperm miss the not-very-friendly lower vagina area! So more are likely to get through and onto the right place.

LavenderSweetPea · 17/09/2023 15:16

@FSGirl yeah I'd say 15 minutes should do it. Definitely room temperature, don't put it in the fridge or anything that wouldn't be good for the swimmers!

Original poster
FSGirl · 17/09/2023 15:13

We are exactly the same @CurlyWurly1991 and before we were trying it was never an issue for either of us but now TTC it was like oh wait we actually do need that bit to be consistent and that’s where the pressure comes in!

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Original poster
FSGirl · 17/09/2023 15:11

@LavenderSweetPea i was going to ask how long between sample collection and use. So 15 minutes but leave it at room temp during that time?

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LavenderSweetPea · 17/09/2023 13:58

@mosiacmaker I'd recommend leaving the 'sample' in the cup for 15 minutes roughly to slightly liquidate before using. Obviously ensure the cup is clean (no one needs an infection)

mosiacmaker · 17/09/2023 10:46

Cab I ask how this works in practice? Do I need to get DP to wank into a cup and then insert straight away? We are getting v serious next cycle but I find the whole thing incredibly unsexy and he often feels pressured so this might be a better approach!

CurlyWurly1991 · 17/09/2023 09:57

@mrssunshinexxx that is undoubtedly the best way of doing it! While my DH enjoys the sex he doesn’t always get to the end … and dislikes the pressure to do so (long-standing issue and much more common than I realised). When not TTC it’s no issue because it just means more focus on me (!!) but not so great when you need those swimmers in the right place at the right time.

mrssunshinexxx · 17/09/2023 06:42

@FSGirl my husband hated the pressure with our first so I started to just not tell him when I was fertile and just upped the sex all month round so he didn't have a clue and he was getting sex on tap with no pressure which he couldn't really complain about !

moosey89 · 16/09/2023 22:28

@FSGirl yes we are 😊 second cycle this time round trying. First unfortunately ended in missed miscarriage at 10 weeks x