The SI Undergraduates: Syringes, Yoghurt Pots and Legs in the Air part 4

[MrsKin90]

I hope this name is okay. It's late and nobody is volunteering so it'll have to do 😂

Starting yet another thread on self insemination before our other one kicks us out!

Welcome to THE most supportive group you could wish for if you’re starting or you are already on a self insemination journey.
Remember, nothing is TMI and you are not alone. 💖

Err tagging at random but likely to forget someone...

@Makingnumber2
@Janefx40
@primrosechill
@Sydney1986x
@Birchybirch
@Lori23TTC
@Oilyoilyoilgob
@Carol1980

I know I've definitely missed people 😬 sorry!

I'm not tagging our bfp ladies right now (would you want to be tagged?! I've no idea) but hope they keep an eye on us and chip in often with wisdom and support ❤️

@bigsweetpotato ❤️ that's awful isn't it? I hate that I'm not happy. About anyone else's happiness. I don't want to be this person but I so badly want a baby. I think relaxing and doing SI as and when you think you're fertile is a good way to start off. How are you feeling now?

@bitheby I'm so sorry, that feels especially cruel. I honestly think FRERs are too sensitive and I encourage people not to use them. I think they pick up HCG when things are already not going to work out and personally I'd rather not know if that was the case. I hope you're looking after yourself.

Sorry about the BFN @birdbybird. How sure are you about your ovulation date?

@ejefferinton lovely to have you on board (but sorry that you're here if you know what I mean!). Is your only fertility issue ED? If so this way might be a surprise positive as lots of people have had success with it when there are no other issues. How long do you have to wait for IVF?

CD27 today 🤨 maybe I ovulated yesterday as all my EWCM has gone today but no movement on my BBT but I've not been taking it properly as what's the fucking point 😂 I'm just taking it for shits and giggles obviously. I can only assume the drastic change to exercise and tweaking of my diet and calories has freaked out my ovaries and I'm absolutely NOT worrying about being menopausal before my time (I am freaking out).
In other news, I'm so glad it's a bit cooler!

Hey ladies x

Cd27 ( yeeey) glad that my cycles are finally a bit longer. Def think the vitamins are helping.

So I'm either 13/14 dpo. Neg tests this month. But didn't have much hope anyway. I've started to brown spot now so guessing that's AF on its way. Way too late for implantation.

@birdbybird sorry to hear that your having a hard time x yes your right, a missed AF and still being BFN can be just as bad, it all hurts just the same x

@bitheby the dark place is where I end up every month, I feel your pain 😢

@MrsKin90 I've been totally freaking lately that maybe I'm perimenoposal !! But I don't seems to have any of the symptoms thankfully x but I do keep googling just to make sure 🤣🤣

@MrsKin90 Yes completely relate to feeling sad when other people announce pregnancies, while desperately wanting to be happy for them. Yes ED is our only known issue, all our fertility tests have come back OK. Hoping to have IVF in August as I'm a teacher but looking like it could be September which would be frustrating. Did SI for the first time last night, definitely much cheaper and less stressful than IUI! Thanks all for your tips and support.

@ejefferinton welcome 🤗

Glad you have found some useful info in our ramblings x

If you have any other questions please just ask x

AF has now started for me. Didn't hold out much hope for this month anyway and I'll be able to properly use our spanking new fertility monitor !

I'll not be gutted if I only get one cycle out of it 🤣 I'll quite happily sell it on if we're successful !!

Hubby is gutted that again we are not pregnant, I can't help but feel sometimes that inside he's blaming me for it not happening but I know he's not like that and I'm probably just overthinking things. Weirdly I'm not having the proper grumps and irritability that I usually have at this time of the month 🤷‍♀️

On to cycle number 'whoevenkeepscoutanymore' 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤣

Thanks everyone.

I don't know what to think. I don't think it was a chemical; I think it was the dreaded indent but it was visible when they usually aren't so who knows.

Am gutted. I don't think I'm going to have my own children. It was nice to have that half dream but only for 24 hours.

@bitheby
The way your feeling right now will pass. Honestly we all get really down after finding out it's another month of no pregnancy.
Keep the faith x it will happen x

You'll be back to your normal excited self soon x and ready to try again x

So sorry @bitheby. As @Carol1980 says we all know how you feel but it doesn't make it any easier. So hard when we see other people seemingly so easily falling pregnant.
We had some good news today, they have brought our consultant appointment forward so hopefully we'll be able to have IVF in August 🙏

[quote Carol1980]@bitheby
The way your feeling right now will pass. Honestly we all get really down after finding out it's another month of no pregnancy.
Keep the faith x it will happen x

You'll be back to your normal excited self soon x and ready to try again x [/quote]

I know you're trying to be helpful but it probably won't for me. I'm 44 and have been trying for 2 years and have had no pregnancy progress past 5 weeks.

@bitheby sorry if I've spoken out of turn and I hope you didn't think I was being dismissive of your feelings, that was not my intention.

So sorry @bitheby that's really heartbreaking 😔 Sending lots of virtual love your way!

Hi lovely ladies, hope you're all doing well. I'm after some advice! This month was our first time for trying SI. I have been using some cheap OPK and they indicated that I'd ovulated on Weds. We SI on Sunday evening (possibly a bit early but it was our first time and we are more relaxed at the weekend) and on Weds. I didn't use the OPK yesterday as wasn't planning to SI (giving DH a break) and today it's shown as negative again. Is it worth doing SI tonight or not? I'm assuming not but there's another part of me that just thinks the more the better! And also turns out I understand a lot less about ovulation and my body than I thought! The clue app also showed me ovulating on Weds - my cycles are pretty regular so I think that it's relatively reliable?

@Carol1980 when do you start using your new fertility kit? Is it from very early on in the cycle? They look very sophisticated! I'm sorry your AF started. It's hard for us all not to blame ourselves which I imagine might be what's making you wonder if your hubby is blaming you. It's not ever anyone's fault really is it? None of us have seen this path in a catalogue and bought several years worth of bullshit. 🙄 I'm excited to hear about your new piece of kit and what it does!

@ejefferinton I think you're meant to ovulate within 36 hours of your peak OPK. It's helpful that you're regular as makes timing things easier. I always believe in "one for luck" personally! If you've definitely ovulated there's no point, but as we can't see inside our ovary area to see if an egg is out, sometimes one for luck is a good idea 😊

Hello and happy Friday!
Haven't checked in a few days - work has been eurgh this week
@bitheby @birdbybird so sorry for your news :(

@MrsKin90 I'm feeling a better about it now, though not sure how I'll be when we meet up! Is it awful to not want to see a friend in person (who you haven't seen in over a year) because she's pregnant? I feel like a terrible friend!!

I'm nearing the end of 2 week wait. Due on Monday. I've run out of p tests so can't do a cheeky test so will just have to wait to see if AF arrives. My boobs hurt which is my usual pmt symptom so nothing else to go off! Fingers crossed!

Ooh and hello @ejefferinton Welcome to the group! Re whether or not to try, we have been trying to do every other day in the week before I think ovulation is and even a day after just in case. I'm doing this cover any fluctuations and get more swimmers up there!!! - I had a missed mc in Jan and now I'm not sure if ovulation is day 13 or day 16 or something between - my apps are all showing different... I probably should start using my pee sticks again but I do find it a bit of a chore and they didn't help me in a year of trying. My periods are pretty bang on time like yours, so I'm hoping that trying in the week before est ovulation plus a day or two after will work again.

[quote Carol1980]@bitheby sorry if I've spoken out of turn and I hope you didn't think I was being dismissive of your feelings, that was not my intention. [/quote]

Sorry. I was feeling really raw and probably shouldn't check the thread when I feel like that. It's a heartbreaking journey of tiny moments of hope but mostly despair. I shouldn't put that on anyone else though.

Thanks @MrsKin90 and @bigsweetpotato. Didn't end up doing SI anyway last night as was pretty wiped out from Covid jab.

@bitheby hope you're feeling a bit better. Sometimes forums can be really helpful and sometimes it's all just too much!
@bigsweet potato everything crossed for you! I'm also on the 2ww, now on cd18 (3dpo). I don't think I'm pinning much hope on anything though, although yesterday at my Covid jab when they gave me the little piece of paper which said to speak to them if I was pregnant it did take me back for a minute!

@bigsweetpotato I've seen my best friend about three times since she got pregnant and she's due in a week. Idc to be honest. It's just too painful. I won't be holding the baby either. I hate holding people's babies and I won't be putting myself through it. I don't think she'll care either as I didn't hold the last on and I wasn't even TTC then! Any sign of AF? I hope not 🤞🤞

Bitheby it's a hard isn't it? Sometimes you don't want to be told "you'll get there" if you really believe you won't. It's hard for anyone else to NOT be positive though as if we give up on you, we admit there's a chance we won't get there either. ❤️ Lots of hugs for you as it's totally utterly shit. The reality is not everyone does have babies. But people also give up and end up with babies all the time! It's okay to feel how you feel and not feel positive. It's horrible and heartbreaking, and nobody would wish that on anybody else, but you're allowed to not feel positive. I hope you're okay xx

@Oilyoilyoilgob just checking on you ❤️ how are you doing?

@ejefferinton I was very lucky and had my vaccine through work quite early on. I had a 15 minute chat with a doctor about the possibilities of being pregnant and had I discussed it with my partner and was I definitely absolutely sure and could I "sign here" to say I understood the risks/not risks (of which there were "none known"). Nice that they're thorough although quite depressing at the same time! Hope your tww twinkles on nicely and doesn't drag 😊

Thank you. It's rubbish because I'm single so I won't get accidentally pregnant even if I give up. Trying always involves loads of logistics to meet the donor and get the timing spot on as we only get one or two tries per fertile window.

I have a hospital appointment tomorrow because I've had swollen glands for 3 months and a positive glandular fever test and I spoke to someone today (not medical) who is convinced I won't get pregnant until I'm physically healthy so might as well take a break. I just don't think I can at my age.

Thanks @MrsKin90 that's reassuring about the jab!
@bitheby that sounds really hard work and logistically really challenging. Coupled with lots of challenging emotions too. As @MrsKin90 it's definitely OK not to be OK.

Eurgh AF did show up on Sunday :( I kinda knew because I had cramps and had pmt sweatiness. My boobs also didn't really hurt which was my main symptom with the mc but I still hoped... oh well bring on next month...!

@bigsweetpotato I'm so sorry...ughhh periods arriving are so gutting. Hope the next cycle goes better xxx

AF is due today. Went to bed last night with no symptoms so feeling slightly hopeful but woken up today feeling every symptom except for the blood - so she's definitely going to make an appearance today. This was our first round of SI so I would have been more surprised if it had worked than if it hadn't, but every period is difficult isn't it? We're going to try again next cycle and then hoping for IVF in August

Hi ladies, newbie here 👋🏻

We’re on cycle 12 ttc (one chemical in sept) but have probably missed about 6 of those due to DH’s performance anxiety. I bought a SI kit this month and it’s taken the pressure off even when we haven’t needed it, so that’s definitely a positive.

We dtd naturally CD11 & 13, then SI (for the first time) last night on CD15 and we’ll do one or the other tonight as today is O day.

It’s great to find people going through similar, you all seem super positive. I was really pro trying SI as we’ve had so many months where we missed the peak days, but I feel a bit weird this morning?! I can’t put my finger on it but I feel a bit down or like we should’ve just tried naturally on peak day? No clue why. And I know that there’s a chance that you may not have even had that option. But now can’t stop googling success and chemical likelihood vs traditional method 🙈

Anyway, wishing you all the best of luck wherever you are in the (frankly brutal) ttc journey ♥️

Hi @Amy259 welcome! I think whatever we do we second guess ourselves when TTC! I don't have personal experience as TTC naturally isn't an option for us... but a lot of people on here do a combination like you as they find it takes the pressure off. Sending lots of positive vibes your way! My period is now one day late, it feels like it's about to start any second but it's playing with my mind... I just want it to arrive now so I can move on from this cycle!

Hi Ladies,

Hope you don't mind me joining here. I have a question, please excuse me if it's silly, but has anyone resorted to home insemination because of low sperm count and poor morphology ?

DH has no problem with ejaculation, but we found out he has low count and poor morphology at the recent SA and we are totally devastated. He had got one done at the end of 2019 and there were no issues back then. His count has went from 62million to 7million, which we are finding hard to believe. Of course his drinking and smoking had went up considerably in the last years, so it could be possible, but still shocked at the difference. He has cut out the smoking and alcohol now, taking Proxeed max, exercising and trying to put in all efforts to increase them for the next repeat SA scheduled in a month. We have been trying since Jan 2020 with a MMC in between, but haven't got any BFP after that. Hence I'm thinking if we could give home insemination a try so that the swimmers are left as close to the cervix as possible. Please let me know if I'm right in thinking this.