TTC Self Insemination

[suzy124]

Hi all,

I just wondered if anyone else out there is TTC by self insemination? My partner has delayed ejaculation so it means we don't have a chance just by bd. I know there's previous threads on this topic from years ago (which have given me hope), but just feel incredibly lonely knowing we are doing things this way. My doctor didn't seem concerned at all, but I feel like it won't work.

Been TTC for 6 months, but half of those cycles I don't think I was timing it right (arrrgh!!), so really I'm on about cycle 3 where I've been using OPKS. I know people say not to use them but my ovulation date is anywhere between CD11 and CD16 so they help me a lot. I was using just the softcup method but switched to syringes when I started the OPKs, i feel like it mimics intercourse more??

Is anyone else in the same boat? I'm currently 9 or 10dpo and feeling like it hasn't worked again

@Amy259 that's good the progesterone and SA results showed nothing to worry about. Did you get your day 3 bloods sorted? I had the all clear with my bloods last month, just waiting for DP's SA appointment now.

Yeah it will definitely take the pressure off and now hopefully you won't miss any months going forward. I'm sure your OH will come around once you get started and there are still ways to make it intimate if you choose. In my case DP hands me the goods and buggers off into the other room to watch tv 😂

I love this thread! It's really nice normalising self insemination! This is my first month SI! We're both a bit asexual and the actual dtd never really happens! We're planning on using syringes and trying from every other day from cd14! Today is CD1

Good luck ladies!

Long time lurker and thought I would pop in with a happy story!
We ended up using SI as my partner is on anti-depressants and dtd was challenging. Anyway, after being convinced this method was a long shot and just couldn’t possibly work with a syringe and cup… I have got a bfp today! Not even a squinter but a blazing line! Even if this isn’t a sticky bean, it’s very encouraging that it worked.
To all of you, first thanks for the tips and making this process seem normal and making me feel less alone. Secondly, you might be worried you are “doing it wrong” and how can this work??? but hold on as it clearly can!
Baby dust to you all and hoping there are lots of bfps on the thread xx

@Swiftasacoursingriver Glad you've found this thread helpful, it's reassuring to know that others are in the same boat and you're not alone in doing things this way. Good luck with SI this month! Let us know how you get on

@Moonstar4982 Congratulations! That's lovely news, hoping it's a sticky bean for you! How long were you trying SI for? Did you do any extra steps after insemination like orgasm or use a cup? Any tips welcome!

@suzy124 my GP wasn’t keen to do day 3 bloods without speaking with hosp first to see what they wanted her to do… so bit of a waiting game now. Progesterone and thyroid fine, that’s all I know for now. Hopefully your SA appt won’t take too long to come through!

@Swiftasacoursingriver I love how positive you are about it! My DH definitely feels a bit like it’s admitting defeat that we can’t do it “normally” and I get that, but it would definitely be easier if he was a little more positive. It’s more of a back up plan here, in case things don’t go to plan when they need to!

@Moonstar4982 congratulations! That’s brilliant news. Was this your first month trying SI? And how often during the fw did you do it? Sorry for all the questions!

It was the first month of SI, so think it was sheer luck!
I was fortunate that my clear blue ovulator kit showed about 6 days of flashing smiley before it changed to the still face. We did SI 6 out of the 7 days in that time. The first few were probably not my peak days in retrospect, so they acted as a rehearsal and I did feel like I wasn’t quite as good with “the procedure” at that point!!!
Didn’t use a moon cup or fertilily, just a 5mil syringe, preseed and then orgasmed afterwards. The first couple of times I didn’t orgasm and noticed significantly more leakage . Then propped up on a pillow for as long as I could (30 mins or so.)
So whilst I don’t have any new tips, hopefully this shows what we are all probably already doing can work!

@Swiftasacoursingriver Glad you found the thread helpful and good luck with the SI journey!

@Moonstar4982 Congratulations! 6 days of SI is good going haha, it worked though!

I had a bit of spotting at 12dpo which I thought was AF come early but BBT was still high so after a few days of really not knowing what was going on and waiting for AF to properly kick in, I tested and it was a BFP (on 17dpo) I'm only 4+3 so it's still VERY early and I'm now spending every day symptom spotting for anything going wrong! Hope I'm not jinxing anything by posting it here.

I honestly thought this was going to be a non-month as we only dtd once and I ovulated two days early. Just shows, you never know.....!

@Missmcmonkeymcbean amazing congratulations!! So much good news on the thread recently. Hoping it's a sticky bean for you 💕
Did you do anything different this month?

Thank you!
Things I changed this month:

• came off anti-histamines (was taking one daily for allergies) as I read histamines play a part in conception
• started taking CoQ10 and Active Folic and Vit D tablets. but only started these on 10/11th and ovulated on 11th so not sure if they would have actually done anything.
• changed the kettle and water bottle to non plastic
• changed the shampoo and conditioner to non-pthalate/parabens
• ate pineapple before and after ovulation
• reeeeeally cut down on sugar. No cakes/cookies/chocolate/crisps/juices/limited white bread/pasta etc.
• I also (sorry if this is tmi) left the syringe in for about 30mins after the SI and there was less leakage this time.

i have no idea if any of those made a difference or if it's all coincidental!

@Missmcmonkeymcbean thanks for this, looks like that book was a good investment! Did you orgasm also? (Please say no haha)

@suzy124 Haha, I actually didn't!

@Missmcmonkeymcbean fab, you've given me hope! Since it wasn't mentioned I take it you didn't use preseed or anything? Last question I promise

Haha, no worries, ask away though I can guarantee you I'm not an expert :) I didn't use Preseed but I did use a little bit of Conceive Plus which I think is similar?

Hi all, lovely to hear all the BFPs.
I had a month break from TTC before we got married at the beginning of July as I wanted to have a drink at my own wedding!
Anyway, my fertile week came around and I hadn’t done any ovulation tests as we were on honeymoon when I should have started. We SI’d every day apart from one from CD10 to CD14, and wouldn’t you know, I’ve got a BFP today, 12DPO.
In fact I’ve got two, one this morning on a cheap one, which I didn’t believe, then this afternoon I bought an FRER thinking it would be negative as it wasn’t FMU, and there it was, a really strong line appeared about five seconds after I’d weed on it.

Hoping this is the sticky one after a couple of squinty lines that were chemicals, but if not we know that our separate room conception method is getting the sperm to the egg and I’m hopeful that if we do have to try again we’ve got a chance.

@Amy259 my DP, now DH reeeeally struggled to ejaculate at all once we started TTC. It took him nearly a year to get the point where he could reliably produce the goods on multiple specified days, after we got that sorted and a proper method going on we had two chemical pregnancies with squinty lines, got married in between and now this BFP.

@suzy124 good to hear that your tests are coming back with the right results, that must be encouraging. Fingers crossed for you!

@bollocksthemess congratulations! On both your wedding and your bfp! Fingers crossed this is your sticky one, a strong line definitely sounds promising.

Did you use the soft disc again for your SI between day 10-14?

I’m thinking of taking a month of OPKs and just either dtd or SI every two days from day 10… I’m trying my best to keep myself a bit more chill this month, I just get so frustrated and consumed by it all and I don’t think OPKs help!

@bollocksthemess

Congratulations!! That’s so fab and just after getting married! What a perfect gift! Keeping everything crossed this one sticks!

I haven’t been on here much since I got my BFP as I’ve had bad sickness but coming out the other side now! I’m just over 13 weeks now but I have to say the anxiety hasn’t stopped and I’m not sure it ever will!

Hope everyone is doing ok and keeping everything crossed for you all! Xxx

@bollocksthemess congrats on your BFP and the wedding.

It's been great to know that others have gone through the same crazy method of ttc but it's just not happening for me, not even a hint. I'm happy for you all but it's hard watching others get what I want so badly and quite quickly too. Don't know what I'm doing wrong

@suzy124 I hear that 🙌🏻🙌🏻♥️

@suzy124 I hope you get what you want soon, or at least some answers as to what you can do to get there. Six months ago I was crying in my car outside my house on the day I ovulated because DH hadn’t produced the goods AGAIN and I’d been off the pill for 7 months.

@Meg5500 this is only day 2 of knowing so technically 3 weeks pregnant. I know I’ll never relax, I hardly slept last night.

@Amy259 yes, syringed it in, kept the syringe in for a couple of minutes while lying on my back. Then put a softcup in. I didn’t orgasm at all this time, or stay lying down for more than a few minutes. Most times I think I got straight up and made dinner or something.
I’d lost the will that it was going to work so I just wasn’t going to waste any more time than I needed to faffing about. We did mostly SI in the evenings though so I suppose I was horizontal for most of the 12 hours the softcup was in.

Sending love to @suzy124 it is rubbish when you feel like the only one. I know the feeling well because I thought I would never have a baby. Sending loads of vibes and wishes to you

Hi everyone, I know I'm late to the thread but so many of your messages sounded exactly like my situation I had to join!
We are trying the SI method due to OH ejaculation issues.
We've been trying since March of this year and had no luck yet.
OH already has a child from his previous marriage via IVF. I don't have any children. I'm 37, he is 42.
I've been to the doctor and my bloods came back normal, we are waiting for OH sperm check results but expect them to be normal too.
We already know we'd have to go private if we had IVF due to OH already having a child. Its so expensive! Hence why we're trying this method.
We also have our weight against us. Even the private clinic won't look at us until my BMI is down to 35.

Thanks everyone who shared their story on here, it's been reassuring just reading them as I got AF yesterday and have basically cried ever since.

congratulations @bollocksthemess on both the wedding and the BFP :)

@suzy124 sending you wishes for your BFP soon.

My journey has not been a great one. Had the BFP back in June and had two scans at 6 weeks and 8 weeks, all good with HB etc and then had another at 10 weeks (for peace of mind) and unfortunately I'd had a mmc and the HB had stopped. Had the surgery last week and now just recovering and waiting until can start ttc again. Will be back on the SI as soon as my cycles start up again.

How devastating, I'm so sorry to hear this.
I honestly have no idea how people have successful pregnancies, I can't believe how difficult it is. Some people make it look so easy and I really want to hate them!

Thanks @Fgirl144, it's such a horrible thing to go through.
I completely agree, I have no idea how people manage to conceive and carry to term, it's so much more fragile than I ever thought it was (have learned sooo much from the start of ttc). All my friends have 2 or 3 kids already (i'm starting late) and never seemed to struggle, it's very frustrating!