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!

Don't apologise at all, I know how exhausting and disheartening the whole process can be! I'm afraid I'm no expert on the supplements - I am taking the pregnacare conception ones, too. I haven't heard and/or tried the cassava root - are you concerned about the regularity of your ovulation at the moment?

As frustratingly unhelpful as it is - and a big cliche - I do believe that stress is just about the worst thing we can do to our bodies while ttc. I can speak from my own experience that the month we were succesful with the insemination, I was definitely by far most relaxed - it's hard to quantify this, but I just remember being really lighthearted when we did the process, laughing loads throughout the "deed", meditating throughout the week and also giving myself ample time to orgasm before the insemination so that my body felt super relaxed. I know you can't force yourself into relaxing but do you feel like you're taking care of yourself at the moment? I do think that by all means research stuff like cassava to you give yourself the best chance at success, but also make sure to do stuff just for yourself that make you happy - sorry, I don't mean to be in any way patronising or annoying, I just know that when I get anxious and stressed I completely neglect myself and would love to be a good friend to my own body and head more often. Sending lots and lots of positive vibes - when will you guys be inseminating this month?

@primrosechill - Thank you for your lovely message. I am concerned about my ovulation, the kits never showed me as ovulating so I am worried maybe I’m not. Thought it would be worth thinking about anything that could boost this.
I think I have been stressed out, I’m a key worker and have been working throughout CV, I definitely got run down and have just had 2 weeks leave which was much needed. We should have started inseminating today but just couldn’t face it! Definitely tomorrow is the start day. I am totally guessing by online research and going for 8 days post start of period and hoping for the best as I never know when I’m ovulating.
I haven’t successfully tried the big ‘O’ following inseminating so this month I am going to try this as an added step and see if it helps!
Best of luck to you too xx 🤞

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks good luck with the insemination today - sending you all the positive vibes! It's been such a horrible time for all of us, and key workers in particular, so don't beat yourself down for having some tougher weeks or missing a day or two in the fertile period. Onwards and upwards!

I also understand why you'd be concerned about your ovulation - is this something you could speak to a doctor to to seek further advice? (If you haven't already)

@MrsKin90 keep us updated on how you're doing also - you're in your TWW now, aren't you?

@Primrosechill
Ah sorry! I joined you all and then left you 😆 I've got commitment issues! I'm 5dpo today I think although my bbt has taken a nose dive so will see if it goes back up tomorrow? My temps haven't been as high post-O as previous cycles so we dtd yesterday as well for good measure so if this is an Ovulation dip we're covered (also because my husband doesn't believe the apps or temps mean anything so wanted to do it one more time at least). This cycle we are just using an oral syringe and conceive plus. Nice and simple 😊
I'm feeling a bit sick today and feel bloody exhausted. This will be because we ate crap all weekend and didn't get much sleep I expect and not TTC related! It's also just normal for me to feel a bit nauseous throughout the entire tww because I'm just lucky I guess! I hope it doesn't mean by hormones are too whacky during the luteal phase 😒
How are you getting on/feeling?

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks
Sorry that you're feeling a bit hopeless! If it doesn't work you know IVF is there as a back up so there is nothing to lose but lots to potentially gain! Surely the "big O" is the best part of doing it this way? Like a reward for persevering! I don't think it'll be that big a deal if you feel too pressured and can't (as sometimes happens to me! Performance issues all around 😳). If I can't I have a cup of tea and a biscuit instead. If they're exceptionally good biscuits that's almost as good in my opinion!!
Fingers crossed for you today!

Why can't he ejaculate inside you?

@inmyshedsmoking2000
Sometimes it just doesn't work for some people and there can be a variety of reasons.
My husband has never been able ejaculate during intercourse. Tried all sorts of stuff and nothing works or makes a difference. 🤷

I'm feeling grumpy today! Normally in my tww I feel all sorts of crazy things but this cycle nothing much at all. I feel very discouraged. Hope you're getting on alright!!

Hello all, I'm new and have been reading the thread. I'm in the same boat and need to self inseminate. If I don't have access to a sterile pot...is there anything else that could be used? If not, are the ones on amazon ok? Good luck to all! X

@drrb to be honest any clean pot should be fine! Just make sure you clean it with boiling water and make sure it is 100% dry when you use!

I just bought pots off eBay/amazon they were like £5 for 10 which covered me for a few months.

I got my bfp after 5 cycles and currently 6 weeks so still early days.

Good luck!

@H8624 congratulations that's amazing news! It's so reassuring to hear success stories 🥳 thanks for the advice x

@H8624 - Huge congratulations to you that’s fantastic news! I hope you are feeling okay and best of luck.

@inmyshedsmoking2000 - My suggestion would be to read the whole thread before asking a thoughtless and frankly stupid question. What exactly do you think same sex couples are supposed to do following that logic? Along with couples where the partner has erectile difficulties. 🤔

@MrsKin90 - Well said and exactly the situation I am in with my DH.

@drrb pots don't need to be sterile just clean and dry 😊 good luck!
@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks how are you getting on now ? 😊

Hi @MrsKin90 - Thank you for your message. How are you getting on with your tww?
We have inseminated 3 times this week. Because of my irregular cycles I don’t know when I’m ovulating (test kits don’t work for me) so it’s guesswork, fingers crossed!

I'm 10dpo today 😊 still nothing going on really so could go either way! I usually start spotting 11dpo so if I get through tomorrow without I'll get carried away being excited 🤦
Three times in a week is good and gives you a good chance if you can continue like that. Is it your plan to?
Test kits don't work for me either because I'm too lazy to use them 😂 I take my BBT so I know when we can stop 'trying' and otherwise just try to do it every three-four days. Any more than that and we'd be forcing ourselves. It doesn't stack the odds in our favour if the times don't work out as my O day has been anywhere from CD16 to CD25 but it is what it is! It'll happen when it's meant to and I know we are doing everything within our power to get there.

@MrsKin90 thank you, fingers crossed for you x

Hi all, how are you doing? Sorry for being a bit quieter these past few days - still spotting after my miscarriage so it's going to be a few more weeks before we can try to inseminate again - have been feeling a bit deflated but am back to higher spirits today. Just want to start trying again! Never thought I would be so keen to go back to these pots and syringes again lol.

@MrsKin90 @TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks any news? Keeping my fingers crossed for both of you.

@drrb, welcome and good luck!

@primrosechill sorry to hear that, always here if you need a chat. I've ovulating tomorrow according to my app and have managed to inseminate for the past 2 days. I'm always so paranoid about bubbles in the syringe. How do you all manage it? I can get the biggest bubbles out but there sometimes tiny ones left 🤷🏼‍♀️

@primrosechill so sorry you're still spotting ☹️ I can't imagine going through a miscarriage, I hope you get your chance to try again soon. Is it true do you think that you're more fertile immediately after a loss? I don't know if that's just a mean rumour or not but I hope it's true and you get your sticky bean straight away ♥️

I'm 13dpo and AF due today. I took a pregnancy test this morning which I never ever do usually but was just super hopeful and it was BFN. My BBT is still up and I actually think it's triphasic but I've had that once before and it didn't mean anything. I'll expect a big fat drop tomorrow morning and for AF to attack. I've been having a few AF cramps but nothing else. No spotting and I usually start at 11dpo. 🤷 I'm assuming I'm definitely out as surely I'd have had a squinter of a line this morning if I was pregnant? I'm not too disheartened as I haven't suffered any nausea or exhaustion this tww as I have done previously and I hope the no spotting means my hormones have balanced a little 😊

@drrb I get so mad at those bubbles. I actually just think F-it and leave the little ones. It isn't going in past the cervix so I don't think it'll hurt anything. Fingers crossed for you!

@drrb ha! I sure hope those rumours about fertility increasing after miscarriage are true - this, and the fact that I managed to get successfully pregnant through insemination in the first place, are the only two silver linings right now! Because I've been bleeding for so long, I have actually started considering TTC even before my first period arrives - so I can start doing it sooner. But then I think that if anything was to go wrong again, I would blame myself for not letting my uterus fully recover first, so I will most likely wait for that first period after all. So much blood in 2020!

Re the bubbles - honestly, I wouldn't overthink it like @MrsKin90 said, but I find that pushing the air out first and then taking up the sperm really slowly does help :) what kind of syringes are you using? (How big are they?) I used the super small 1ml ones (like this: www.gompels.co.uk/terumo-centre-tip-syringe-luer-slip-1ml-100.html) and I found that I would get less air trapped in those - they were also super comfortable (I suffer from vaginismus) and ultimately worked.

@MrsKin90 - sorry about your BFN, although obviously check again tomorrow if AF doesn't arrive! Glad to hear that you are doing better health-wise and keeping positive. It's so nice to have this forum and know that other people are going through similar stuff.

@MrsKin90 thanks for the advice regarding bubble 😊 from what I've learnt so far on MN is you are not out until AF shows

@primrosechill it's a horrible position to be in, but like you said the silver lining is you know insemination does work for you. I also suffer from vaginismus and am using the 1ml syringe too as it's comfortable for me as well!

Hello ladies just wanted to ask do you liquify the semen before insemination? If so, why and for how long x

@Makino I don't actually but think maybe you should? I do leave it in the syringe keeping it warm with my hand for a couple of minutes before I 'use' it though.

Just updating that AF came today. I cried all morning and now I feel better. This was the month we tried our hardest and I ovulated earlier than usual and everything seem to go really well. Fingers crossed for another early O so I don't have to wait 20 days for another egg. Do other people let the sperm liquify before sucking them up? 😂

@MrsKin90 oh sorry you've had a horrible morning, it hurts when you've tried so hard, that was me last month when AF arrived. I'm here if you want to talk, cry, anything you need really! Get through the next few days and I hope next cycle is the one for you x

@Makino I do allow the sperm to liquify for 15 minutes prior to putting it into the syringe. I watched videos on YouTube where others had done this as it's easier to syringe 🤷🏼‍♀️ I'll try anything in the hope it works! Good luck x

Hi everyone! Can I join? I just posted a topic about self insemination and then found this thread straight after!

We have been ttc for 3 months and DH has major difficulty finishing inside me. We’ve tried lots of ways of keeping him relaxed so it happens but no joy so far. I have suggested self insemination but he was slightly horrified at the idea. Obviously we would all prefer to conceive by DTD but I just can’t see it happening for us. I suppose the other issue is that DH’s issue is caused by medication that lowers his libido so he rarely masturbates. I think possibly he’s worried that he will struggle to perform on his own as well as with me.

Did anyone else’s partner need some convincing or were they just happy to take the pressure off (as I thought DH would be!)? If so, any advice on ways to convince him this is worth a try and or ways to make insemination still feel nice and not clinical. I think his main issue is the memory of conceiving our first child being not a pleasant one.

@drrb you're so lovely! 😊😊 I had a big cry and got it out of my system. I'm okay now. I'm lucky in that I can choose to work at home right now whenever I wanted so I chose to work from home today so I can have my cat and my coffee machine as comfort 😂

@LuckyFlash welcome!! I can't remember my husband's reaction if I'm honest... I'm not sure I waited for one. I just said 'I bought syringes, let's make a baby' followed by him asking if it works and how we would do it. If he was horrified I was too busy naming our future children to notice.
We incorporate it into our usual ummm.. routine, it's a bit tmi for a public chat even for me (and I'm not shy!) So I'd be happy to private message (is that a think on Mumsnet? I'm still new) but probably don't want to embarrass us all by putting it on here lol others on the thread might be less prudish than me!!