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!

Haha thank you @MrsKin90 - you can give me a virtual slap on the wrist if I even think of testing earlier than next Thursday

@AdriannaP I know how frustrating it can get to see these BFNs - hang in there and take good care of yourself! We have been TTC since this Janury. We got pregnant in March in our third month of trying, miscarried in April, and now on the first round of insemination since the MC. This getting pregnant business is a serious thing and they definitely don't teach you what an emotional rollercoaster it can become!!

Indeed @primrosechill we have been trying for a year since my last MC and then about a year before that 😭
I am considering paying for IUI now, my DH is not convinced self insemination will work. My DC1 is getting older and I am also not getting younger!

Unfortunately I also have to test early every month as I have to start medication as soon as I know I am pregnant. So I start testing from 8DPO and it’s just so heartbreaking (and a huge waste of sticks). I have had dreams of BFP tests. :-(

@AdriannaP there will be no slaps on the wrist for you for testing early!! 😊 Just lots of support if there are negatives as I can imagine that's really hard to put yourself through. It's one thing to test because you want to but it's different that you have to. I don't know that much about IUI but is it much different to inseminating yourself except it happens on a doctor's bed?

Omg 😱😱😱 'on a doctor's bed' sounds absolutely inappropriate and I can only apologise on the basis of not having had enough coffee.

A few key differences:
Sperm will be “washed” and inseminated directly next to cervix
They monitor your ovulation and you get additional hormones to stimulate ovulation
So you are more likely to hit the right window.
That’s all! It’s just all so frustrating and I want a magic wand!

That's interesting, it's funny to think about sperm being 'washed' first. It sounds like it makes everything a bit more efficient and likely to go well. Is it expensive?
I want a magic wand too; where do they sell those?! 😆

Around £700-£1000 per go. Fertility doc said I have a 25% chance with that (as have good and plenty eggs apparently)
He thought we should try IVF as the chances are higher for us and we can freeze embryos. But we really only want one more child and IVF js a lot more invasive and expensive.

If there's nothing wrong with you or your partner then IUI makes more sense doesn't it? As you could do lots of more goes of that than IVF but hopefully you won't need to any way and this cycle is the one 🤞🤞

🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 For all of us

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@AdriannaP looks like you're really looking to cover all your bases so you definitely can't blame yourself for not giving it your best - I so hope that it pays off for you and the rest of us really soon.

I'm currently being reminded of how much I have the TWW hahaha - I just hate the wait! I wish there was some way I could just check in with my uterus and find out right away if it's planning to grow a human within me soon LOL

how much I HATE*, not have haha

IUI is intrauterine insemination, so they stick a catheter through your cervix and inject the sperm straight into your uterus as opposed to normal sex/self-insemination, where you/your partner just deposit it in your vag or close to the cervix.

A bit like putting a coil in, I suppose. Though with cycle stimulation and things.
I thought the sperm was washed for this, because otherwise it can lead to infection (prob. Your vagina cleans any sperm for you before it reaches your uterus at all).

I thought they mainly used IUI to release sperm closer to their goal, i.e. when there are fewer (reduced count, as then fewer sperm will get destroyed from the outset which leaves more for fertilising the egg), if the woman destroys too many or if the man has issues with motility (ability to move, so sperm die before they even get anywhere).

Interesting to hear about IUI I’ve never heard of it. Nice to know there’s another potential option that’s not straight to IVF.

We had our first insemination yesterday! All went well. Hopefully we’ll manage a few more goes before O as I think it’s still a few days away.

Question on air bubbles. I managed to get most of it in the syringe without much trouble but there was a tiny air bubble that I couldn’t get out. What’s the reason behind needing to get air bubbles out? I’m worried that will have affected things.

Also TMI but I’m interested to know if anyone is happy to share how much semen their partner managed to produce? Mine was only about 1.5ml. I’ve read that is the very bottom of normal and anti depressants can reduce semen quantity. I’m interested to know if this is something that other men with ED have or not

I always wish we had an obvious sign we were pregnant. I'd even settle for morning sickness starting straight away if I'm honest. I thought I'd ovulated two days ago but I'm not sure now so inseminating today but to be honest think that'll be it for us this cycle as if I haven't ovulated by now (CD21) I can't imagine an egg being any good if it does get released! Also I'm struggling a bit mentally this week and just don't think I can take any more right now.

@LuckyFlash hooray for your first insemination! I don't want to frighten you with the air bubble thing so I'm hesitant to answer. I THINK it's to do with an air bubble getting into the blood stream through the cervix which can be dangerous. I'd only be concerned about this if you were inserting past the cervix which you shouldn't be. I've rationalised this by thinking how much air must get pushed into the vagina during sex as there must be a small bit or we'd all get stuck together! I wouldn't worry about a few bubbles 😊
In regards to the TMI - my hubby produces between 1.5ml and 2.5ml. I think it depends how much he's into the... production process (😂)... As I read that can make a difference. He takes anti seizure medication which is part of the cause of his ED and lower production and lower sex drive. There are foods they can eat to increase production aren't there or have I made that up?Brazil nuts, walnuts, fish... 😊 Worth a try? Oh magnesium and zinc help I think? Not sure if my hubby can take those or if they can impact medication absorption.
When I worry I remind myself people get pregnant using the pull out method and from pre-cum and that's got to be much less than 1.5ml!

@LuckyFlash I think that’s quite a normal amount. When you order donor sperm, you get less than that even (i have read too much about self insemination!). We never have morw than 2ml and it reduces per cycle.

I never manage to get rid of all air bubles, have not experienced any issues with that.

IUI is quite a good option for us actually, as neither of us has fertility issues. We might consider it in a month or two. I have had enough of trying and just really desperate for another DC now!

Hi 😊 how are you all doing?

I'm supposedly 3dpo today so quite a long cycle with O at CD22 although BBT has been inconsistent and I'm suspicious that I'm further into my TWW than that so if my period comes early I won't be surprised.
Inseminated day before ovulation if going by BBT but roughly did every three days around suspected/potential O so we shall see 🤞🤞

@MrsKin90 sounds like you are in with a good shot this month!
I’m on CD17 and still no sign of O. It was CD16 last month but usually CD21 so I think I have a few days yet. Successfully inseminated every other day for the last week and DH showing no signs of giving up yet - very proud of him lol. So I’m hopeful we’ll cover all bases by the time O comes.
Feeling so good that we could be in with a chance for the first time in 4 months!

Oh that's so exciting LuckyFlash! Hopefully your O day is just a few days away and doing every other day is amazing. 🤞🤞 Super happy for you that it's all going in the right direction!

Good luck @LuckyFlash & @MrsKin90 looks like you're both doing all the right things!

I'm at 9DPO today and fighting not to give in to the temptation to test! My period is supposed to arrive on Sunday but it's the first one since the MC so who knows!! I'll probably cave in and test on Friday/Saturday with an early test... I have a feeling it will be negative this month though, somehow the one month I did get pregnant I just had an instinct about it even before I peed on that stick!

Oooh 9dpo! You're so close and have done so well not testing so far. Don't they say 9dpo is the most common day for implantation so you could rationalise that testing before 11dpo isn't worth it! I hope your instinct is just sleeping and this is the one for you. 🤞 I forget - did you track ovulation at all?

I am 6 DPO. Will try and wait until Friday or Saturday. We only managed two so don’t feel so hopeful. Let’s see...
with my last pregnancy I didn’t test positive until 5 days late.

🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻For all of us

@MrsKin90 yes, I have been tracking ovulation using the Femometer strips and app.

@AdriannaP looks like we'll both be testing around the same time then, eeek! Hoping for some good news this month for at least one of us xx