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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.

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Original poster

A chance to TTC at last!

17 replies

SquillosMum · 21/02/2007 20:19

I'm quite excited as we are finally starting a cycle of donor insemination treatment after 6 months waiting for some sperm to become available!

I'm on CD3 and had a scan today and started injecting drugs to stimulate ovulation as this worked for me last time.

I really want it to work but realise that it might not so am trying not to get too excited. We have 2 ampoules of donor sperm and normally they use both in one cycle but we have asked them to just use one so that we have a chance for a second cycle if necessary. It could be a long wait for some more sperm otherwise.

Just feel the need to tell someone but don't really want friends & family knowing every last detail of our TTC attempts so thought I would post about it here.

OP posts:

feedmenow · 21/02/2007 20:23

How very exciting!

So when you say about injecting working for you last time do you mean that you had a successful pg and baby?

If you don't mind me asking, why has it/does it take so long to get donor sperm? Are there loads of couples waiting or not many donors, or a bit of both?

scorpio1 · 21/02/2007 20:43

good luck,i can 'hear' how excited you are!

Original poster

SquillosMum · 21/02/2007 20:43

We have a lovely 2 year old DS conceived with donor sperm, after 3 failed donor insemination cycles without stimulated ovulation. So we are trying for number 2.

The sperm situation is a nightmare since the law changed so that donors can no longer remain anonymous the number of donors has dropped dramatically. The sperm comes from a different fertility centre to ours as they don't have a sperm bank at ours (and we have to pay for it too!) the clinic that it comes from will treat their own patients first before releasing any sperm to other clinics like ours.

I don't know how many couples are waiting, I only know of one other in RL who we met at antenatal classes when expecting DS.

I just so want this to work first time, but trying not to get my hopes up!

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Fingerscrossed2007 · 22/02/2007 09:54

Feedmenow - there is officially a "sperm drought". Both NHS and provate clinics sperm banks are pretty dry since the law chance. It has totally devastated supplies.

Original poster

SquillosMum · 22/02/2007 10:01

The law was changed "in the best interests of the child" but it seems that there won't be many children conceived this way any more as a result. Very frustrating for those of us who can only conceive in this way. If we are successful this time round, we'll have one DS who can't find out any info about his biological father and one DC who will be able to. How fair will that be and how do you explain that to your children? They do offer counselling at the start of this process but when DH & I took this up this time round they hadn't really thought of this situation and didn't have any suggestions to offer - we'll just have to make it up as we go along.

OP posts:

Original poster

SquillosMum · 01/03/2007 19:28

Quick update on our TTC efforts this cycle. I had one good sized follicle and was inseminated today, the donor sperm wasn't of the best quality going, but as they say, it only takes one! Still I'm trying not to get my hopes up whilst remaining positive - not that easy really. So now just 2 weeks to wait and see what happens...

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feedmenow · 04/03/2007 11:48

Squillosmum, lets just hope that that one good one does the job! Fingers crossed for you...

Original poster

SquillosMum · 14/03/2007 14:31

Still on my 2ww, but resolve not to test early slipped yesterday - result BFN
Had some AF type aches, but nothing appeared. A little spotting this morning and nothing since. After getting quite excited over the last 2 weeks with queasy symptoms, have been feeling quite negative about this cycle. Will have to see whether anything happens tomorrow, and if no more bleeding then I'll test. I'm definitely not getting my hopes up now though, and am starting to think about the next wait - for more donor sperm to become available, and I've no idea how long that will be...I just found out that my older sister is PG (after she lost twins at full term this is fantastic news) and my younger sister is also PG. I just wish I could join them this year too.

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Original poster

SquillosMum · 15/03/2007 08:54

As expected AF arrived in full during the night, so no BFP for me this time. Let's hope there can be more chances - will be ringing the clinic today to find out if there's any more sperm floating around!

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cedar12 · 15/03/2007 09:56

Sorry it didnt work for you this time. I hope some more sperm come available soon good luck for the future.

lissielou · 15/03/2007 09:59

ooh fingers crossed! sorry it didnt cling this time.

Original poster

SquillosMum · 15/03/2007 11:55

Thanks for the best wishes, you may find me in the hut of gloom soon though I don't feel I can join a TTC thread as I can't TTC until some sperm arrives.

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fionap19 · 15/03/2007 22:55

Hi,

Just felt ~i had to write. Ive been through the donor sperm thing and have three sons to prove it!
Yes there is anow a drought of sperm donors. Its so stupid too because why should they agree to being contacted in the future when they donate! Its not fair on some really nice helpful men! None of my sons can contact their donor. It certainly isnt an issue for us now, I guess it may be in the future? My oldest is 13.

I wish you such good luck with your tries. I was so lucky as I got pregnant in 2 months, 2 months then 1 month...
Im going to get gross now and tell yuo some tipsIm sure helped! First when they put it in, dont let them rush you to get up. You need to lie there at least 20 minutes. a couple of times they tried to speed us up, but heck you pay and you only get these few chances so take your time.
the second thing is afterwards....go right home and make sure you have a good orgasm! I know too much info, but the function of that is to "hoover up the sperm" it sucks it up and helps it reach where you want it to! So go home to bed and get there hopwever you need to! I used to stay put bum up a little for an hour or so. Usually so drained by the experience anyway that it wasnt a hardship!
If you ever want to talk you may email me direct if you like..
[email protected] Im happy to talk.

I wish you all the luck in the world!

Original poster

SquillosMum · 16/03/2007 10:50

Thanks for the tips Fiona - I did follow some of these already, spent at least 20 mins lying down immediately afterwards, and my DH and I like to "make the baby" too IYSWIM.

When we had DS it was before this anonimity law came in so there was not such an issue with availability of sperm at all. I rang the clinic and they've put us on the waiting list, but have no idea how long it is going to be before some more arrives. I'm also going to speak to their embryologist about importing sperm as that might be an option. I don't care if it costs more, I just want the chance to have another baby, a brother or sister for my DS. We nearly lost DS last year as he had liver failure (sudden onset due to some unknown virus) and only just survived 2 transplants. So we are very very lucky to have him with us now - and knowing how lucky we are to have him makes it a bit easier to cope with the conception problems.

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fionap19 · 20/03/2007 03:56

OMG! you poor thing!These children are precious anyway...mine certinly are too....

I did a search recently online using google.com and looking for sperm for sale...it seems it is possible! I came across one place where you pay and they deliver! Just thought you might want to know!
Part of me fancies another but there is no more of our donors sperm left.
I always hoped for one of those miraculour pregnancies....you know the kind! I have been pregnant with hubby before but miscarried, Im told its pretty near impossible but I never give up hope!

Original poster

SquillosMum · 20/03/2007 08:33

Yes, was horrendous knowing how hard we had tried to have our DS to then nearly lose him?but he?s doing pretty well now, just a bit behind as he?s had a lot to catch up on, being so ill at a critical time in his development.

We're going to try going privately for no.2 , there's a clinic in Manchester which has it's own sperm bank so they seem to have enough to treat their own patients, but not enough to send out to other clinics to use, which is what our current clinic relies on. It actually won't cost that much more, just will be a pain travelling to Manchester, especially as I had stimulated ovulation so more scans to check follicles last time. And with a 2 year old in tow will be a complete pain, but if it works is worth it. I found out about this clinic from a friend who we met at antenatal classes whose partner is just about to try and have their 2nd baby by DI (she had their 1st). My DH is completely infertile so no hope of any miraculous pregnancies for us - he'd be pretty suspicious if it did happen!!

I've also looked into getting hold of sperm in other ways, but it seems that it's a bit more risky in terms of possible infections to use fresh sperm rather than stuff that has been frozen whilst the donor undergoes tests for HIV and the like. But may be something to look into further if we have no luck with this next referral. It's just so hard waiting for things to happen - I want to be pregnant already and just see possible chances slipping past. At least I'm not ancient (will be 36 in July) and this waiting time gives me a chance to get myself as healthy as possible in advance (trying to see some positives in all of this!!).

It's good to be able to rant about it on here and get some of my frustration out of my system, just that it's all on my mind constantly, especially with both my sisters being pregnant at the moment - would love to join them in that state

OP posts:

fionap19 · 22/03/2007 17:09

Hi, I wish you loads of luck. Im sort of resigned to never having more. I would love another, hubby really has no chances of having a miracle, our donors sperm is all been destroyed now (it is after 10 years) we only got 8 years worth from itbefore it was gone! Im also older so that doesnt help. Im actually 45 now,but the longing doesnt go! Id adore a girl too....Oh dear!!!!
Im so so grateful for my three wonderful talented boys though, dont get me wrong. funny how once you have had that longing it doesnt really go!
Im sure you will be fine talking a 2 year old. My youngest (at the time) in each cacse always came with us. It wasnt a problem.
Good luck!

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