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!

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks I'm so sorry AF has arrived for you ☹️ it's good the hope it still there but I know it hurts when your period starts. Maybe you were just meant to have a Valentine's Day baby? 🤞🤞

Goodluck drrb and Lori! Still early in the tww so Bfns don't mean anything at this stage! 😊 Fingers crossed for you both.
It'd be amazing to see a few bfps soon to help keep the faith that this works and also because we all just deserve it.

I wish there was a way to have a bit more power over this situation!

@Lori23TTC have you tested yet? X

@drrb I tested yesterday 10dpo and was a bfn. Not getting any symptoms, I normally get sore boobs at least for about a week before AF but not even got that this month?! How are you getting on? Xx

@Lori23TTC 10DPO is still early, don't give up yet. I've heard some women have no symptoms and then go on to have bfp so 🤞🏽 for you. I tested yesterday at 9DPO and got a bfn. I will leave it a few days before testing again x

@drrb we are just one day apart! 🤞 for both this month.. if not we have next month! Keep me updated if anything changes xx

Does anyone know if using the syringe method gives you less chance than the normal way? I suppose you can loose or damage a few sperm in the process but I'm hoping its around the same chance each month? Xx

I read it's ever so slightly less effective? I'm not sure that was evidence based and can't remember the specific numbers. I keep reminding myself that people get accidentally pregnant from pre-ejaculate with the pull out method so why wouldn't this work??

Hello ladies. I'm currently on CD7 after finishing my first period after MC (it was a nasty, long one) so am now officially back in the insemination game! I'm hoping my ovulation will come back roughly normal but I guess I will have to pee on some sticks and see - feeling super anxious after losing the first pregnancy but also happy to start doing something about it soon! Normally I ovulate around day 12-13, so will start testing and possibly inseminating later this week.

@Lori23TTC @drrb keeping fingers crossed that you WILL see that second line on the test this month after all! And good luck to everyone else x

@firsttimemumhere

Hi, we had the same problem, and used self insemination and we now have a 15 week old. We used preseed lubricant and a home insemination kit from Ebay with a catheter to insert it as close to the cervix as possible.

Please share a photo or link of the syringe with catheter. Thank you.

Hey ladies.. my AF has arrived this morning 🙁 onto the 11th cycle!!

Has anyone had a BFP this cycle?? Xxx

@Lori23TTC so sorry about AF starting 😟 it must feel like such a long time. How are you feeling?
I'm on CD14 so still waiting for O. Usually sometime between 16-20. So nothing to report from me yet!

Sorry @Lori23TTC :( I know how disappointing it is to get that bfn... 11 cycles is tough, too - please do take care of yourself and find some time to prioritise your wellbeing, and don't lose hope. We're always here if you need to vent, too.

My O test came back high yesterday and peak today. We've inseminated twice and probably will do once more tomorrow. Honestly after the miscarriage I'm just glad to be able to start doing something to get pregnant again - and glad to feel like my body is doing things 'right' again after the disappointment and bleeding with the loss. Keeping all fingers crossed (and both legs lifted for at least 10 mins after the insemination lol) for myself and all of you ladies🤞

Let us know how you get on this month, once O comes @MrsKin90 - good luck! x

@MrsKin90 thank you...
I feel ok, it’s not nice being back at CD1 but it’s another chance to try this month so trying to stay positive! Good luck in your fw!

@primrosechill
Thank you your message was really lovely 😊 I’m going to do some fertility yoga to make myself feel better and have a chilled weekend!

Good luck in your Fw too... sounds like you are doing everything right and it’s amazing you have had a peak on your OPK... I’m so sorry about your miscarriage I can’t imagine how you must have felt but it sounds like your body is doing everything right now and hopefully it will be your month! Keep those legs lifted ha that’s what I do too! Keep us updated xxx

@TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks so sorry I missed your reply! Sad that AF came and got you ☹️ it's so hard to go through this month after month but well done still feeling hopeful. I'm hopeful for us all 😊
I hope you've been kind to yourself since AF started.
CD16 for me today. Inseminated yesterday and will do so again Wednesday. Wish we could do it more often but OH just can't manage 😟

@MrsKin90 in a similar position here. We manage 3 times max per cyle, mostly twice. I fell pregnant twice (one MC) with only DTD once that cycle so timing matters too.
We are now self inseminating most months, DH struggles with ED and the pressures of TTC. Really hope this is our month!

Hello, any news from anyone?

@drrb I know you were waiting to test again - any updates? 🤞
@Lori23TTC glad you are doing some nice things for yourself to keep yourself occupied - before you know it, next month comes round :)

We've insaminated five times in the last four days - now the TWW begins! I've promised myself I'm going to try not to test early this time. Firstly, I know I have a higher chance of getting a BF that way. Secondly, after the miscarriage I'd rather wait until testing - as strange as it might sound, I don't want to give myself too much time to get attached in case things go wrong again...

Probably easier said than done I'm sure this time next week I will already be peeing on a stick hahaha.

Good vibes for you all! x

Hello ladies, it was a BFN for me last month. Just about to finish AF, excited to start inseminating again! Hopefully we see some BFPs this month 🤞🏽. I promised myself I will not test early this month like you @primrosechill as it's disheartening but lets see if we stick to it!! xx

@drrb sorry to hear you got AF too 🙁 positive vibes for this month.
@primrosechill good luck you have given yourself the best chance doing it that many times so fingers crossed.

I have a question, what size syringe is best to use? I have used a 5ml and can insert the whole lot at once. I thought using a 1ml would be better for getting rid of air bubbles and easier to insert but I have to do it about 4 times, do you think that damages the sperm more, I’m not sure it makes a difference but any advise would be welcome xx

How is everyone getting on? Any news?

I’m joining back in as I’m approaching my FW and going to be trying inseminating for the first time!

I’m on CD10 and really want to start now to make sure I don’t miss my O. Last month I ovulated on CD16 but it’s usually about CD21 so I’m worried that if we start too early DH will run out of steam before we get to the most important time. Hard to know how to judge it!

@Lori23TTC I’m using a 10ml syringe - my understanding is that the closer you can get to your cervix the better. I would have thought the plunging process would damage some sperm so the less you can do the better but I’m no doctor!

I personally use the 1ml syringe just because that's the only size that I can comfortably insert without major discomfort due to my vaginismus.

I do worry about whether the act of doing it multiple times (I usually do 2 syringes-worth per insemination) damages sperm but I tend to insert one, let gravity do its thing for a few minutes (by lying down with my bottom and legs raised) and do the second insertion afterwards. That way hopefully all the initially inserted sperm is already outside of the syringes' reach when I do it the second time... but who knows! :woman-shrugging:

Personally I used 10ml just because for me they resulted in less leakage compared to 5ml which i tried the first couple of months. But whatever you can insert should be fine! I always used to leave the syringe in for 15/20 mins as well to stop leakage as much as possible as when I removed straight away I felt like loads came out straight away!

I am using a 5ml and also leave it in 10mins or so. I don’t use preseed anymore as so much was leaking out. I put some on the outside of the syringe though.
@LuckyFlash I am tracking with Clearblue (which had turned out very expensive so far) which shows 4 days. Due to my husband’s ED we can only really have 2-3 shots per cycle max. Quite frustrating sometimes. I am considering now paying for IUI. We had all the tests btw and everything was fine.

@Lori23TTC I use a 5ml syringe 😊 I only need to do it once but I don't think it matters if you have to do more than once - I don't think it'll cause any damage. You could try using a bigger one next cycle if you think it might help but I'm sure it shouldn't make a difference.

@LuckyFlash welcome back! Goodluck with inseminating 😊 how often do you intend to do it? Glad to see someone else with later ovulation. I'm CD17 today and no O so far but have some quite bad pains in ovary area so fingers crossed it's in the next couple of days as usually around CD18-20.

@primrosechill I'm very pro-not-testing so can wag a finger at you if you wobble if you like! I'm well impressed with your insemination efforts!!

@AdriannaP ED is so frustrating! It is all about timing though and loads of people get pregnant by accident just doing it once! Especially if all your tests are fine hopefully this works for you 🤞🤞

I absolutely started my reply at lunch time and never got chance to finish it and people have sent more messages since then 😆 long day.

@MrsKin90 it really is. And the pressure of TTC is not making it easier. We have tried Viagra too.
I was pregnant a year ago but sadly had a MC. I also have an older DC and the age gap is growing. Every month I am so upset and depressed when AF comes. It’s hard to stay positive.

How long have you TTC?

@MrsKin90 ovulating late is quite frustrating especially when dealing with ED - it’s hard to know when to start so you don’t miss it but don’t run out of steam too early! DH is up for having our first go tomorrow and we’ve discuss trying every other day until my temp rises - we’ll see how we get on

@AdriannaP I’m just using the cheap opks and they seem to work for me. Fingers crossed for you!