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!

Good luck @Busybee93 keeping everything crossed for you!!
CB had me ovulating on CD10 which is too early, cheapies still negative. So who knows when I will actually ovulate this month? 🤷🏻‍♀️

@eloiseislost they are actually such a pain! I had so much anxiety about whatever I was ovulating as it took so many flashing smileys to get a static smiley! My husband was just rolling his eyes every morning I tested as I'd set an alarm that woke him up haha

I'd recommend using the cheap ones alongside it as they tend to confirm suspicions!

[quote Busybee93]@bigblueboots congratulations!! So exciting! Were you late for AF? Or tested early? Any symptoms you spotted?

Clear Blue Smileys drive me mad. They had my ovulating at CD22 which is unusual for me as I'm usually CD16 but then the cheap ones did confirm CD22 too.. who knows at this point!

I'm 6DPO at the moment. Been good at not letting it consume me at the moment. But there's still time..

Good luck for your cycles! [/quote]
@Busybee93 Not officially late yet, DW has irregular cycles so we don't know how long her luteal phase normally is but it's CD34 now and 12dpo, so going to wait a few more days and then test again to confirm. She had sore boobs and ache cramps that didn't quite feel like AF, quite hard to describe but just not quite normal. Also had nasal congestion a few days ago which apparently is a weird overlooked symptom?!

Good luck for this month!

Hope everyone is okay!
@bigblueboots how are you doing? Excitement setting in?
Anyone else tested? A few people were close to AF weren't they?

CD11 for me 😊 inseminated for the first time today. I'm nervous that maybe I already ovulated as my BBT rose two days ago and is still high... But I'm hoping it's just balancing out?! 😟 Suppose I'll soon see! No EWCM so fingers crossed I haven't but I have had lots of pinches/cramps today and yesterday so I dunno. Wish my body would just pick a fucking ovulation date 😒

Af has been and left today. So ready for the next cycle. Fingers crossed. We are planning on trying every day of cycle week this time, to see if we get it in the bag this time.
How you all doing?
Congrats @bigblueboots!!!

@LAG1986 do you mean you're trying every day of your fertile week? (Reasonable). Or every day of your cycle?! (Ambitious!!).
I'm feeling sorry for myself today as FF gave me crosshairs putting me at 3dpo, hoping it changes as the week goes on because otherwise I'm already out 🤦

Hiya, thanks for checking in @MrsKin90! All good here, did another FRER at 14dpo to check in and it was a much stronger BFP so starting to feel more confident about it. I didn't sleep for the first couple of nights, I think I've been constantly pumped with adrenaline and excitement - and my nerves have been a wreck! But now we've called the doctor, and AF has definitely not appeared, I'm hoping I can chill a bit... DW is fine, just achey and a bit dizzy.

Hoping all works out for you this cycle - even if you've already ovulated, the insemination might have hit in time, the egg can hang around for a day or two I think.

@LAG1986 that sounds like a good plan, if you've got the stamina for it! Plenty of chances. Will be crossing my fingers for you!

Hello all!

Congratulations @bigblueboots!

I'm at the start of fertile week, cm noted, supplies at the ready, and dh has been back teaching at uni for the first time since March, so I'm crossing my fingers he is not totally exhausted the next few days (and doesn't get covid...). 5 days still until predicted ovulation on clue (which is pretty spot on as far as I can tell having used it for many years). The cheapy opks I got most recently seem to be a dodgy batch as they are barely showing a control line, so fingers crossed for some visible results. I'm feeling half excited and half intimidated by the prospect of a first non-penisy insemination attempt.

Hello ladies. Back from my holiday today and from a two week mumsnet break - so much to catch up on here! @bigblueboots BIG congratulations to you and your DW, so lovely to come back to some positive news. Keep us updated on how you’re getting on.

I feel refreshed after a much needed break. I think I’m at 4DPO today but I didn’t track this cycle and we also didn’t stress to much about insemination, just did it whenever we felt up for it - still managed three or four times in the fertile window so we should see. I am feeing so broody at the moment it’s not even funny - swooning over every cat, dog, elderly lady, baby or a small plant lol. Get a baby inside me stat. 😂😂😂

@bigblueboots amazing! 😊 Glad your DW is feeling okay! If I'm 3dpo today (hope not) then there's no chance really. Ive researched it and it's so unlikely to get pregnant the day after ovulation let alone two days later! I'm hoping it's just a mistake 🤞😆

@DinkBoo you sound very prepared. I think you'll feel better once you've done it! It isn't as bad as it seems. Just try to be as calm as you can 😊

@primrosechill 😂 that sounds like extreme broodiness! Glad you're feeling refreshed 😊 4dpo! Your tww will be over before you know it. How was the holiday??

@DinkBoo I laughed at "non-penisy"! I hope the weirdness wears off soon enough for you - it's amazing how quickly things become normal

@primrosechill hoping the 2ww flies past for you. Totally with you on the broodiness... We got our puppy when it got serious, ha!

Haha every day of my fertile week ladies. My partner wouldn't be up for the whole cycle. Haha. Xx

@bigblueboots I have been petitioning for a dog for a long time but we live in a small London apartment so I feel like I can’t really justify one yet haha. Plus my husband says we should get one once we have a kid so it grows up with it which I guess is a cute idea haha. How are things going for you and your wife?

@MrsKin90 I had a lovely break thank you - not looking forward to returning to work tomorrow, can’t we just cancel the rest of 2020?! 😂🤷🏻‍♀️ Have you done any more opks to check what’s going on with your o this cycle?

How is everyone else doing? Anyone testing soon? Big hugs, enjoy your sundays! X

Welcome back @primrosechill 😃

@MrsKin90 how are your temperatures? I am in a very odd cycle myself, only the second charting so I am perplexed! Feeling really low, I have no idea when or if I ovulated. CB digital gave me no flashing smileys, went straight from blank circle to static smiley on CD10; Cheapies + CB digital confirmed another peak on CD13 (that's when I ovulated last cycle) and I had EWCM CD12-14; FF says I'm 7DPO; Flo has not detected ovulation; my temps are much lower compared to last months luteal phase. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I think I'm out this month and I spoke too soon when I said I hated the 2WW last cycle… At least I had hope then, now I just feel crushed. 😢 The silver lining is that my DH is so supportive and 100% on board with all this, and that gives me some comfort.

Good luck to everyone on their 2WW! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for many BFPs from this thread and all others! ❤️

@eloiseislost The CB digital gave me four days of peak as well. I'd take that as a sign that you ovulated - I have considered it that way anyway! I used the cheap ones to confirm as they tend to just go dark the day you're ovulating. It's a fine art I tell you! I actually find the testing for ovulation more stressful than the TWW!

I'm on CD35!! Never had a cycle this long before but not testing yet as I ovulate really late - CD23 and have a LP of around 13 days so holding out for the next few days!

@primrosechill glad you had a lovely break! So good to not put pressure on TTC as well. I went to see an acupuncturist yesterday and she advised the same! She said - and I quote - stay off the fertility tracking apps!

My husband says the same about dogs.. I'm trying to convince him it will prepare us for a baby though.. needless to say he's not buying it!

@Busybee93 Fingers crossed for you!! Keep us up to date! 🧚🏼‍♀️

@eloiseislost if your bbt comes back up tomorrow I would say you likely ovulated CD13? As that would make today 4dpo and a dip around then is often normal. If it stays down I'd not be sure you ovulated either and would encourage you to do insemination as often as you're able?

@primrosechill I vote for canceling the rest of the year!!
I don't do OPKs as I just feel I drink too much and with PCOS I'd never trust them anyway!!

@LAG1986 that's much more realistic 😂 thought you were showing off for a minute! 😜

My temp has been very steady taking it vaginally however, I didn't take it today 😬 I honestly just don't want to. Ugh why have I done this to myself?! I'll try to stick with it. I'm almost certain I haven't ovulated yet as I don't 'feel' like I have - no sore boobs or heartburn which I usually get after O. Also have had lots of EWCM today and yesterday so hoping for another bbt shift soon to confirm I didn't ovulate early? CD14 today so idk. continuing with DTD every few days just in case!!

@MrsKin90 After frantically Googling literally all day today, that was my conclusion. Looking at my previous cycle, I ovulated on CD13 and had a dip below luteal line at 4DPO. So I guess we'll find out tomorrow! Didn't inseminate today because to be honest I felt crappy, also did an OPK which was negative and no EWCM so I don't think I'm fertile. But I'll keep an eye and we will inseminate as much as possible next week if need be. DH is so keen, he has surprised me, I must admit!
How are you getting on?

@Busybee93 When we got our two cats, everyone kept telling us that they will be our practice for babies. I always argued that you can't put a bowl of biscuits on the floor and leave your babies for 12 hours while you work and then grab a quick drink at the pub!

Hello everyone, had a bit of time away so shuffling in quietly 😊

@bigblueboots aww fantastic to read this during catching up and I really really hope everything is going well. Sending you massive congratulations and hugs ☺️

Had a wobble earlier this week after the chemical pregnancy and was bleeding for 12 days altogether and only stopped spotting today ☹️ I haven’t done opks but we’ve done our first insemination tonight and I’ll get back on the opk sticks tomorrow. My period is normally only 4 days ish so my body is obviously not happy! So I don’t know if ovulation messes up but husband persuaded me to start again after me feeling anxious so at least I’m back on the syringing bus.

I’ve been trying hard to eat well and exercise more to shed some timber, and sleep more and not go on my phone as much before bed.
Because we’ve not been syringing we went out for a meal last night and I had my first drink since July-one glass of Shiraz and it was HEAVEN 😄 really needed to tell the last two weeks to piss off.

I hope everyone is doing ok, been thinking of you all xx

Nice to hear from you @Oilyoilyoilgob
I am really sorry for those dreadful 2 weeks you've had but it sounds like you are ready to put them behind you. Your husband sounds really supportive, you are very lucky! Good luck for this cycle! 🧚🏼‍♀️

Aww Eloise thank you lovely ☺️ Everyone is so nice here, bloody hell we all deserve some niceness back and some sticky beans don’t we?!

He’s been a good egg. I was vile to him earlier this week after spending two weeks in a bit of denial and he totally got it once I’d stopped in a heap of snot and tears. Which I needed to be honest.

But I’m ready to start the cycle again and last night was good for us. ED wise it’s not been great as sexual intimacy has been nil due to this and his work but we’ll start building that back up from tomorrow.

Part of our therapy was three times a week of intimacy-touch, massage etc so that’s needed as well. Life feels like one big tick list 😏 but that’ll be nice for us.
Syringing has taken a massive pressure off ED wise for us both. At least the 200 I bought 😱 can now be put to use!

Sending you and everyone positive wishes and good health ✨💖

Thank you @Oilyoilyoilgob
That's exactly what our sexual health councillor has advised us to do! But the 2 weeks per month that we inseminate, we focus on that and then get back to intimate moments after. We are both surprised at how easy insemination has been so far and how it takes the pressure off. Well, I still obsess about my BBT and OPKs but at least my husband is relaxed!

Eloise exactly like us then ☺️ So couples time tomorrow night and we’ll syringe tues etc but sept when I got pregnant we syringed every day. Before dinner so I had 20-30 mins legs up time!

Totally agree on husband being relaxed, which is nice isn’t it? I feel like intimacy is nicer doing it this way. Way back at the beginning I was adamant I did not want to do this but so pleased we have.

You’re good doing your temperature! So pleased it’s all working well for you ☺️ Xx

@Oilyoilyoilgob We spent more than 4 years struggling with delayed ejaculation, it almost broke us. Intimacy was associated with frustration, disappointment and resentment. Since we started therapy a year ago, it's like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders. We've made very good progress and we are much happier and relaxed. This is why we decided to TTC!

I am temping every morning at 6:00 which is fine for workdays, but it also means I'm up at 6:00 at the weekend as I'm one of these people who can't get back to sleep once they are awake! Had 2 surges on my OPK this month and knowing I have PCOS, I think tempting is unfortunately necessary for me!