Self insemination - Any success stories?!

[TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks]

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!

Hi everyone :-) I just made a profile on here just so that I could comment on this thread.. my OH can’t ‘finish’ inside me so we’re starting to inseminate from next month.. such a relief to discover I’m not the only one in this situation! Had been feeling sad that we wouldn’t be able to conceive ‘naturally’ but tbh I’m just hoping for success any way it comes, as I’m getting quite old now! (35 😬). Good luck to everyone inseminating this month xxx

Welcome @Tigerlily85! It’s such a nice feeling to know that there is more of us, isn’t it?

It’s been quite quiet on this thread this week, hope everyone is okay! @MrsKin90 how are you getting on - you must be around/after your ovulation now, aren’t you?

@Tigerlily85 welcome! It is reassuring to know we are all doing the same and can give advise to each other along the way! How far into your cycle are you?

@primrosechill how are you? My AF did turn up and work has been really stressful so I’ve had a pretty crap/emotional week but I will start inseminating in about a weeks time so hopefully will start to feel more positive then!

Hope everyone else is ok xx

Hey @Lori23TTC sorry to hear about your week :( I hope you have something nice planned this weekend to relax and put your mind off it.

I'm CD23/10DPO and got a BFN today - I'm almost annoyed with myself for how convinced I was I would get a BFP today. I've been feeling nauseous for a few days, had weird hot flushes and woke up in the middle of last night just feeling 'off' with my body, like something was going on - I of course convinced myself these were all symptoms. I know at 10DPO I'm not out yet and period isn't due until Tuesday but I took one of those super fancy digital tests that are supposed to work a few days before AF is due, so I'm not feeling too optimistic anymore.

Sorry I haven't commented back for a few days! Work is really messing up my schedule and some stuff going on in personal life that has had me a little busy, oop!

@Lori23TTC stopped tracking after CD20... my cycles are around 25/26 days so..... hope you've been chilling too!
@LuckyFlash its definitely a little stressful changing shift pattern. How is everything going for you?

So AF is due tomorrow, took a test this morning and it was a BFN so I would say I'm out for this month.... again sigh

@Tigerlily85 welcome! I was so ... happy (?! i hope that doesn't come across horribly, as it's not meant too) to find that I wasn't alone with this... and I think my OH is feeling a little relieved too that he isn't alone...!

@primrosechill big hugs. we will get our BFP one day. just got to keep positive :)

How is everyone getting on?

Thanks for the welcome guys! @Lori23TTC I just ovulated on Friday, we didn’t try this month as I’m taking a month just to sort out my diet (quitting caffeine and alcohol etc) and get my trackers used to my cycle (I’m using Ava bracelet and Mira ovulation tests). So going to be starting next month, probably around the 5th. Got syringes and pre-seed, so think everything’s in place 🙏 🤞

@MrsKin90 it’s such a relief to described we’re not the only ones who have this! I think OH takes it personally so I’m just trying to reassure him that it doesn’t matter, and syringes are just as good as doing it the ‘natural’ way. He is reluctant to try IUI so hoping we have luck with it!

If anyone has any tips about the actual Insemination process I’d love to benefit from your experience.. do you guys lie with your legs up afterwards for instance? Do you have sex first or just do the bits separately?

Oops typo and not sure how to edit the post.. meant it’s a relief to discover we’re not the only ones, phone autocorrected to ‘described’ 🙈

hi all,
sorry I have been off this board for a while. Trying to stay motivated and not despair that TTC is taking so long...
Just ovulated this month and only managed two tries - so now the TWW begins.
I also saw a fertility consultant and on a waiting list for IUI. He said my chances are only 15% and I should consider IVF which woudl give me a chance of 40%. I can't really consider IVF now, the cost and the huge burden mentally and physically. The waiting list is around two months anyway so we have some time to still try.
He also recommended a Fallopian Tube Dye Test in case one or both of my tubes are blocked. if they are IUI wouldn't make any sense.
I am also now doing acupuncture and have started TCM - just trying everything now, I am so desperate!!

Also I have bought 1ml syringes, they seem to work better for me. I get less air bubbles and they are a bit longer than the 5ml ones. I do lie with my legs up afterwards for about 20-30mins.
@Tigerlily85 how are the Mira tests? i have been thinking of trying those as I don't always trust Clearblue fully...

I really need to rant... AF is late by almost 3 days... but every test is negative. Just. Ugh.

Can I ask how you ladies approached TTC with self insemination with your DH's?

I'm heading into cycle 4 (period due Sunday, definitely expecting it this cycle) and I think we are missing my fertile window because DH is often tired because of work.

I really didn't want to pressure him and shout about ovulation and fertile windows and make it feel mechanical, but I would just like the option of being able to "get him off" and then self inseminating if he's tired and I'm ovulating.

How did you bring this up without making it really unsexy 🤦🏼‍♀️

@MrsCSmith sorry to hear that! Any sign of her today? AF can be so cruel!

@Tigerlily85 we approach it fairly clinically - DH does his business into a sample pot. I get myself comfy and usually try to get myself ‘in the mood’. When he’s done I put the pot under the covers to keep warm, lay on my back and prop my legs up. I have tried with and without 1ml of preseed depending on how I’m feeling (I don’t have much Cm which is why I think it will help but the jury is out as to whether it acts the same). Then I use a 10ml syringe - very slowly suck it up into the syringe and try to tap any bubbles out but I never seem to be able to get them all out. Pop a bit of preseed on the outside of the syringe and put it in as far as it will go and then slowly plunge. Then I have an orgasm and leave the syringe in with my legs propped up for about 20 mins. I think I might have a retroverted cervix so this month I have tried also lying on my front for a bit too to cover all bases lol. To be honest people get pregnant from a quickie so I don’t think the positions are doing much but psychologically it helps. I try and do it all within about 5 mins to avoid the sperm dying. I’m not sure how long they live - any other ladies know?

@zippityzip my DH wasn’t keen on this method when we first started ttc - he was determined to conceive the ‘normal’ way. But after a couple of frustrating months I asked again and I think he was just delighted to take the pressure off. Now he actively gets excited about it lol. To be honest we are completely unsexy about it and it’s a means to an end. It works for us because it means sex can just go back to being a fun romantic thing that we do when we want it. It was a little awkward for the first one but now we’ve done it a few times he’s very happy to shout ‘shall I have an insurance wank tonight?’ at me whilst making dinner 🙈😂

@LuckyFlash Thanks for your response. That does make me laugh, insurance wank. I'll maybe give it another cycle before bringing it up. That's a good way of looking at it, to make sex fun and romantic again.

Hey ladies.. I haven’t been on here much either (trying to not think to much about ttc)
I’m feeling in a slightly better place now I will be coming into my FW this weekend, I’m not doing any tracking this month, no bbt, no peeing on sticks, just going to go by how my body feels and try and do it around my Fw as much as possible. That way I can’t count dpo either! Not sure how it will go as I am a planner ha but trying something different.

@MrsCSmith how are you feeling? Has AF come?

@AdriannaP bless you I really feel for you, I too feel desperate now and it’s a horrible feeling to have. Fingers crossed for you and you don’t have to go down that road, you have a few more cycles to try. I also use the 1ml and sit with my legs up for 30 mins.

@zippityzip my hubby was actually fine until we started ttc... he said the pressure was to much and just couldn’t always perform, we still do sometimes have sex normally and normally starts that way but if he’s not up to it then he will just say I’m going to do it in a cup and we do it that way. I just googled things and cane across inseminating and mentioned it to him and said for him to do some research and he said yes let’s try that and that’s what we do now when we can’t. I also told him how important it is to get it up there as you have a 12-24 hour window and he said it would take the pressure off, educating my hubby on it helped us. It isn’t sexy but you can try and make it funny, he always makes me laugh when I’m sitting with my legs up and a syringe out ha I have to tell him not to or the sperm will come out if I laugh 😂

Xx

@LuckyFlash @Lori23TTC still no sign of AF. Frustrating now as I haven’t a clue when I’m ovulating next cycle... and obviously I’m not tracking yet cause this cycle hasn’t finished 😂😩

When it came to approaching the subject with my DH we had already had conversations around him unable to finish inside me before we were trying so it was fortunately straight forward. I make him feel as comfortable as possible and try to make it something that I ‘catch’ so that he doesn’t have to think about it too much, and it’s put the pressure off. I’ve also mentioned that doing it this was is a heck of a lot cheaper than going to a Fertility clinic, and the frugal man I married liked that fact! 😂

Hello ladies! It’s been a bit quiet on here, how is everyone doing?

@Lori23TTC how’s the FW and going by how your body feels working out so far? I’m on CD7 today and thinking I’ll do similar this month - starting tomorrow we just plan to ineminate every other day and not stress too much about OPKs or BBT. I’m feeling a bit less stressed out at work atm so hoping it will help...

@MrsCSmith did AF show up in the end?

@zippityzip wecome to the group - how did the chat with your hubby go?

Hi,

Came across this thread whole browsing and so relieved to see couples who have the same issues as my husband and I !!

We've been ttc no 2 since January and we're finding that delayed ejaculation was seriously hampering our efforts.
My husband has no issues performing until it gets to the 💦 and in his own words ' I get so close the. To feels like it just goes back down'
Sex can last for ages, I mean like 40 mins to an hour if we're trying to 💦

Eventually I had a conversation with him about maybe trying the self insemination thing....we're not on our 2nd month.

Our first time round we got the sample, within minutes in to a syringe and input it in, waited 30 mins and despite doing this a total of 4 times the first time round within my fertile period, nothing happened.

But more research online I saw that there was a couple of websites who advised to leave the sperm for approx 10 mins to liquify the put it in, and to make sure that you try to orgasm at the time of pushing the plunger down in order to have the cervix dip in to the sample.

I'm still in my 2 week wait just now. But just wondering if anyone has any tips for next time should we not be successful this month ?

Also is anyone else royally fucked off by the fact that hubby can't 💦 inside you despite having sex multiple times but is able to 💦 in to a cup 3 times over the space of 4 days !!! 🙄🧐

Bloody typos, sorry we are on our second month of trying the insemination route

We used a cheap syringe/plunger and a takeaway tub which we washed each time. Started trying in December and caught in June. In hindsight, it only took so long because we didn't match ovulation up properly for the first 2-3 months, so it was very quick. Also used urine strips to check when I was ovulating. Good luck x

Another thing to assist fertilisation is ensuring you have the right amount of vitamins/minerals. I used pregnacare on someone's recommendation and caught the next month! Liver is also very nutrient dense, if you can stomach the taste! And other meats/fish etc

@primrosechill I’m doing ok, I’m CD15 and getting all the symptoms of ovulation, I tend to ovulate on CD17 so assuming it will be around Thursday! We dtd normally on Saturday and insemenated last night, will do it for the next 3 days too until Thursday and hopefully thar will do it!
Glad your work isn’t as stressful... my work is very stressful atm and had a bit of a melt down at the weekend but I think I’m going to start looking for a new job...

@Carol1980 welcome! I just inseminate once he has done it in the cup... do make sure I have orgasm once I’ve put it in though!

@AquarianSquirrel congrats I’m so glad to hear from someone where this has worked!

X

Hello everyone, can I join in? My husband recommended a look after him researching the idea of self inseminating🙈 so here I am!

He has performance issues with ED and although getting a bit better, the pressure to conceive due to our ages (I’m late 30s and he’s early 40s) was getting too much for us both. We’d decided in January this year to try properly but the ED for penetrative sex has made this difficult. He is ok with foreplay and touching so I know we’ll be able to collect sperm. Plus I’m hoping doing this means any type of sex will be fun and relaxing and sexy, not just a focus on getting pregnant!

I have to hold my hands up and say this last week of me on my period has given us huge rows over this, which I feel awful for. I had in my head conceiving while having loving, penetrative sex so when he suggested this it just felt so opposite to how I imagined, that I was horrible about it 😔
Coupled with pmt, a good friend having her baby two weeks ago and another friend due a baby anytime now I just went a bit mad. Literally the last few months I feel like I’m going a bit crazy 😞

Reading up on this and this thread has honestly made me feel so much better about this. So thank you all so much. I’m going to buy the syringes and start this month. I’ve been tracking my period and I have normally around a 32 days cycle.

Bought ovulation strips and a thermometer but I haven’t used either as talking about trying to get pregnant was getting us both upset and wound up. Does everyone remember to take their temperature on waking up? I just feel a bit clueless about it all 😄 mixed in with the fact the thought of labour absolutely terrifies me, part of me is like wtf am I doing with my life 🙈

Sorry for such a long essay xx

Welcome @Carol1980 and @Oilyoilyoilgob!

@Oilyoilyoilgob my DH has the same thought as you at first and really wanted conception to be a loving experience but actually we have both really enjoyed insemination once we’ve got down to it. It’s feels quite fun and proactive and more like we’re ‘trying for a baby’ than just having sex does. And we still get to enjoy a fun sex life without the pressure outside the FW. So you may come round to the idea! I track my bbt - I almost always remember although it took a little while to get into a routine. Now it’s second nature. If you miss the odd one though it’s fine you’ll still get an overall picture at the end of the month. I also find opks very helpful. I’ve been tracking for 4 months now and probably could stop given I know when I’m going to ovulate but now I’m on a roll I find it all quite easy to keep up with and it makes me more relaxed rather than stressed as it seems to with other people. Personal choice I suppose - I like to be in control of as much as possible when there are so many variables outside of your control

@carol1980 I don’t wait 10 mins but DH’s is always pretty liquid and easy to use. Definitely have an orgasm yourself - there’s got to be something in it for us girls if nothing else lol!

@MrsCSmith how are you getting on? Did AF come yet?

@Lori23TTC we are almost cycle buddies. I’m CD19 and Think I ovulated today. I got my peak opk so if my cycle is as normal then tomorrow my temp will rise. We inseminated today and every day for three days before so feeling positive.

This was the first month I had any fertile CM! A fair bit of wet and even a little EWCM a couple of days ago so I’m delighted! I’m putting it down to the evening primrose oil I’ve been taking. Hoping it’s a good sign

@LuckyFlash yay to getting fertile CM! The evening P does help so that’s good! That’s what I’m doing, everyday for the 3 days and ovulation day can’t do anymore than that. We are both coming up to the dreaded tww!! Hopefully it will go quickly!

@Oilyoilyoilgob welcome! Similar situation to me, the pressure of ttc has meant performance issues for my husband but this takes the pressure off, I want a family so badly I will do anything and this seems like a pretty easy thing to do in the grand scheme of things so try to relax, i also would have liked to conceive with being a romantic setting but life just isn’t like it is in the movies and nothing is perfect.
Try not to let it cause arguments, I get it though I’ve had a few with my partner too when you feel so frustrated and annoyed but it’s not something they can control, i have to try and remember that as my husband would love nothing more than to be a father.
Plus when I’m on my period I cry at everything, I think it makes us all a bit off in one way or another so don’t be so hard on yourself Xx

It’s so interesting that most of you are inseminating because of your partner’s issues. Am I the only one on here because of “my” part? (Vaginismus makes penetrative sex uncomfortable most of the time, hence the insemination!) Regardless, I can completely relate to wishing we could just conceive “normally” - although the more I talk to people the more I realise how many different sex problems there are out there so I wonder what even is “normal” anyway! Plus I guess for same-sex couples, that way isn’t even an option.

@Lori23TTC @LuckyFlash primrose oil? I dont think I’ve heard of it for TTC, just in pregnancy - how/why do you use it?

@primrosechill evening primrose oil helps improve the quality of cervical mucus, I take it after my period finishes and then once I e ovulated I stop... they say you must not take it past ovulation though as it’s dangerous in early pregnancy, I haven’t taken it this month tho and I’ve still had loads of ewcm... 5 days of it so far! I agree I think a lot of people think everyone else is having loads of sex when in reality it’s probably not like that. X