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!

@eloiseislost it's good to hear how you're getting on in detail! 😁
I didn't know what vaginal applicators were and had to Google 😂 hopefully they'll be more comfortable for you and make the process better! 😊 It's already a bizarre situation so nice to make it as easy as possible for yourself. I'm a bit jealous of your shorter cycles!! You will be at the end of your tww before I even ovulate (IF I ovulate this cycle as don't believe I did last cycle). I know exactly what you mean about feeling like you're doing something!
This cycle for me I'm taking Myo inositol (starting tomorrow!) and concentrating on exercise and weight loss! I've lost the tiniest amount of weight in the last two weeks but have upped my exercise and I'm convinced my AF is my reward for trying 😂 Oh I'm also going to try taking my BBT vaginally, once AF has stopped obviously 🤭 I'm hoping it'll be more accurate as I keep waking up with my mouth open!

[quote MrsKin90]@eloiseislost it's good to hear how you're getting on in detail! 😁
I didn't know what vaginal applicators were and had to Google 😂 hopefully they'll be more comfortable for you and make the process better! 😊 It's already a bizarre situation so nice to make it as easy as possible for yourself. I'm a bit jealous of your shorter cycles!! You will be at the end of your tww before I even ovulate (IF I ovulate this cycle as don't believe I did last cycle). I know exactly what you mean about feeling like you're doing something!
This cycle for me I'm taking Myo inositol (starting tomorrow!) and concentrating on exercise and weight loss! I've lost the tiniest amount of weight in the last two weeks but have upped my exercise and I'm convinced my AF is my reward for trying 😂 Oh I'm also going to try taking my BBT vaginally, once AF has stopped obviously 🤭 I'm hoping it'll be more accurate as I keep waking up with my mouth open![/quote]
My cycles vary, between 25-32, mostly between 26-28 though. So of course the first month of TTC I had the shortest cycle ever! And even so, I managed to waste so much money on frers when I thought I was testing early!!

Good luck on your weight loss! I lost 5st 5 years ago and have been maintaining since. Though, thanks to COVID-19 I’ve put on 6lbs!!
I have been thinking of tempting vaginally but so far so good with oral temps, there is definite fluctuation but FF found my ovulation last month and I’m hoping I’ll see crosshairs this month too.

Hope all you ladies are doing well. 4 days till af due. So I'm on tender hooks to see if she arrives. Was only able to si once this month during ovulation window, due to bereavemen, and dtd once. Was first time trying si. Fingers crossed Grandma might send us a baby. Xx

Hi all !

Nice to see all the updates !

I'm currently cd30....usual cycle is between 25-27 days so officially late, 16dpo today and BFN so I'm just waiting on AF now ! Def not pregnant !
Don't know if maybe my cycles are def fecked up after the MC but had strong cramps yesterday and my usual is cramps 3 days before af so hoping that she turns up either tomorrow or day after although I did check my cervix and it's high 🤷‍♀️ so honestly not a clue but def not pregnant !!

On to the next cycle when bloody period shows up !!

@eloiseislost - Hello cycle buddy! I'm only a day behind you. I also have reasonably short cycles too (26-29) days. On which day do you usually ovulate and how long is your LP? Good luck with BBT vaginally after AF has finished. I very much prefer vaginally as I've found it's a bit more accurate! I have stopped BBT'ing for now though as my sleeping pattern is well out of whack! Hopefully we can do this journey together. Thank you also for the 'vaginal applicators' tip, I was worried about a syringe and how uncomfortable it would be. Do you have a link to the ones you bought?

@LAG1986 4 days! How are you still sane?! Fingers tightly crossed Grandma has sent you this precious gift. What tests will you be using, or are you waiting for AF?

@Carol1980 Sorry to hear you're just waiting on AF now. How long have you been trying? You might want to check, and be 100% sure but I think taking EPO may trigger AF if you're late. EPO gives uterine contractions though - so you need to be 100% sure you're definitely not pregnant if you resort to that. Hugs love x

I'm CD5 today, Cycle 30. Suffering secondary infertility and I'm 35 years old. I hope to do a SI this cycle as I want to give us the best chance possible. I have a retroverted uterus / cervix, so I'd rather get into a position then insert for maximum chance. Rather than my partner ejaculating then trying to get a pillow or three under my bottom and them making a bid for freedom whilst I'm messing about.

Any links to kits you've bought gratefully appreciated.

[quote Sadie406]@eloiseislost - Hello cycle buddy! I'm only a day behind you. I also have reasonably short cycles too (26-29) days. On which day do you usually ovulate and how long is your LP? Good luck with BBT vaginally after AF has finished. I very much prefer vaginally as I've found it's a bit more accurate! I have stopped BBT'ing for now though as my sleeping pattern is well out of whack! Hopefully we can do this journey together. Thank you also for the 'vaginal applicators' tip, I was worried about a syringe and how uncomfortable it would be. Do you have a link to the ones you bought?

@LAG1986 4 days! How are you still sane?! Fingers tightly crossed Grandma has sent you this precious gift. What tests will you be using, or are you waiting for AF?

@Carol1980 Sorry to hear you're just waiting on AF now. How long have you been trying? You might want to check, and be 100% sure but I think taking EPO may trigger AF if you're late. EPO gives uterine contractions though - so you need to be 100% sure you're definitely not pregnant if you resort to that. Hugs love x

I'm CD5 today, Cycle 30. Suffering secondary infertility and I'm 35 years old. I hope to do a SI this cycle as I want to give us the best chance possible. I have a retroverted uterus / cervix, so I'd rather get into a position then insert for maximum chance. Rather than my partner ejaculating then trying to get a pillow or three under my bottom and them making a bid for freedom whilst I'm messing about.

Any links to kits you've bought gratefully appreciated.[/quote]
I'm so happy to have cycle buddies!
I only started tracking my ovulation using cheapies last month, I ovulated on CD13 and had an 11-day luteal phase. I don't have enough data to definitively say this is my pattern but I reckon it's not far off, based on CM observations from previous cycles.
These are the applicators I got:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FT92XLQ?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare
Last month we used a 10ml syringe and when trying to angle it to find the cervix, it was quite uncomfortable. Your mileage may vary but these look like they'll do the job.
I think both with syringes and applicators, you end up with a tiny bit of wasted product, semen stays either or the tip of the syringe or the mouth of the applicator. This shouldn't be a huge issue, it only takes one mighty sperm after all and millions will still make their way! But just to be safe, I got some Conceive+ lubricant and my plan is to draw some of that before drawing the semen. That way, in theory, the last bit that will get stuck will be the lube and not the semen. I'll let you know how it goes!

@eloiseislost I have no idea how I'm staying sane. I used to test all the time. And in the end drove myself mad. So now I just go with it, and sit tight to see if af arrives. I upset myself more, and spent so much money that I didn't need to buying early tests etc.
How are you doing? X

Sorry @Sadie406 see above reply. I've gone mad. Haha x

@eloiseislost been ttc no 2 since January .

Af arrived this morning for me so on to the next cycle 🤷‍♀️

[quote Carol1980]@eloiseislost been ttc no 2 since January .

Af arrived this morning for me so on to the next cycle 🤷‍♀️[/quote]
Sorry to hear that, nothing more heartbreaking than the arrival of AF when you are ttc! May this cycle be the lucky one for you, keeping my fingers crossed! 🧚🏼‍♀️

@Carol1980 sorry that AF came for you but I'm glad it didn't leave you waiting too long, how are you feeling?

CD4 for me and AF is pretty much gone. This has been the quickest, lightest (except for CD1) period I've ever had with almost no pain at all!
Usually I'm 2/3 days of spotting beforehand plus five days of proper AF. Bizarre. Makes me think my whole uterus took a holiday 😂
Hubby wants to inseminate every few days all the way through the cycle up until my AF due date as he's convinced we're missing O date too often as it's so inconsistent. Feels ambitious, so we'll see!

@mrskin90 you could try every other day inseminating. I suppose that way you will have more chance of catching the right day, like your hubby said. X

2 days left till af is due for me. It's not likely this month that she wont show her ugly face, but still fingers and toes crossed!! Because you never know.

How are all you ladies and partners doing?

Dear all, I am not a native speaker, I cant perceive how I sound often but I will be thankful if you help.
-Could you please explain step by step with all the details the syringe method, with the cup method, we failed in our attempt? I used a cup brand called Moon Cup it is silicone, DH ejaculated inside the cup and we inserted but when I took the cup out 2 hours later all the "little swimmers" were still inside the cup still in their thick consistency.
Did we need to wait a bit to get the swimmers liquify?
The cup was vacuumed inside me its hard to explain but there was no possibility for the sprems to move cos the cup was like vacuumed and plunged. So we failed with this please can anyone explain clearly how you manage if possible step by step to make this method work I started to think a syringe could be easier to use.... I will be very very thankful. My best wishes to everyone TTC

Hello all! I'm joining in here after lurking for a (long) while. Thank you all for sharing your experiences. You gave me the courage to raise this with dh, which was terrifying after years of tip-toeing around ed and the related stresses and strains. Turns out he was surprisingly eager so I'm now hoping all the supplies I just ordered arrive in time for this month.

@DinkBoo

Hello all! I'm joining in here after lurking for a (long) while. Thank you all for sharing your experiences. You gave me the courage to raise this with dh, which was terrifying after years of tip-toeing around ed and the related stresses and strains. Turns out he was surprisingly eager so I'm now hoping all the supplies I just ordered arrive in time for this month.

Best of luck to you and welcome! 🧚🏼‍♀️ My DH and I find the process of home insemination very easy and carefree, takes the pressure of TTC while we work on his ED issues. I hope everything works out for you! 🙂

@littleangle46

Dear all, I am not a native speaker, I cant perceive how I sound often but I will be thankful if you help. -Could you please explain step by step with all the details the syringe method, with the cup method, we failed in our attempt? I used a cup brand called Moon Cup it is silicone, DH ejaculated inside the cup and we inserted but when I took the cup out 2 hours later all the "little swimmers" were still inside the cup still in their thick consistency. Did we need to wait a bit to get the swimmers liquify? The cup was vacuumed inside me its hard to explain but there was no possibility for the sprems to move cos the cup was like vacuumed and plunged. So we failed with this please can anyone explain clearly how you manage if possible step by step to make this method work I started to think a syringe could be easier to use.... I will be very very thankful. My best wishes to everyone TTC

Hello! I think you need a soft cup, as opposed to a reusable one like the Moon Cup. See here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000X29GY6/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_LuWDFbQ4CVT7B. If you go for the syringe method, your husband needs to ejaculate in a cup and then you draw the semen with the syringe, lie down with a pillow under your bottom, insert the syringe and very slowly push the plunger. Stay laying down and don't remove the syringe for 15-30 minutes. Keep in mind, that whichever method you use, it is likely it will not work the first time. Best of luck!

@LAG1986 will be crossing my fingers and toes for you!! 🤞🤞
@littleangle46 I've tried this with a menstrual cup and I just don't think they sit close enough to the cervix. I would always inseminate using a syringe first and then you can always put your moon cup in to try and keep things in there a bit longer although it's only natural some of it will come back out anyway!
Remember to keep the cup warm and consensus seems to be to let the semen sit for about 10/15 minutes until it is more liquid/runny. Then suck up into a needless syringe. Prop yourself up with pillows up your bum and pop the syringe in/insert the semen. Goodluck!

@DinkBoo welcome! 😊 Goodluck for this cycle. hope it all arrives in time!

@MrsKin90 thank you. No sign of af yet. Due tomorrow. So fingers crossed no symptoms is a good sign. But not getting my Hope's up, just incase.
How are you doing? X

I've just realised I wrote 'with pillows up your bum' instead of "under" and it's given me the giggles. So I might be a bit hysterical!! Otherwise I'm okay 😊 cd5 today and AF is over. Hoping for a better cycle 🤞
Well I'll be hoping for you that AF doesn't show - are you going to test over the weekend?

@MrsKin90

I've just realised I wrote 'with pillows up your bum' instead of "under" and it's given me the giggles. So I might be a bit hysterical!! Otherwise I'm okay 😊 cd5 today and AF is over. Hoping for a better cycle 🤞 Well I'll be hoping for you that AF doesn't show - are you going to test over the weekend?

Oh dear, I can't believe I wrote this!!!!

@MrsKin90

I've just realised I wrote 'with pillows up your bum' instead of "under" and it's given me the giggles. So I might be a bit hysterical!! Otherwise I'm okay 😊 cd5 today and AF is over. Hoping for a better cycle 🤞 Well I'll be hoping for you that AF doesn't show - are you going to test over the weekend?

This really made me laugh too

Thanks for the welcomes! Good luck everyone

@MrsKin90

I've just realised I wrote 'with pillows up your bum' instead of "under" and it's given me the giggles. So I might be a bit hysterical!! Otherwise I'm okay 😊 cd5 today and AF is over. Hoping for a better cycle 🤞 Well I'll be hoping for you that AF doesn't show - are you going to test over the weekend?

carefully removes pillows

😂 well at least something is funny! The weather here certainly isn't. The rain is awful. I looked longingly at baby clothes in the supermarket today 🤭 hubby not amused!! Such cute winter clothes though!
Hope everyone is okay today!