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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Home insemination

245 replies

FSGirl · 15/09/2023 20:14

Wondering if anyone has experience with this?
DH and I are TTC our second but he has been struggling with work and family stress - high pressure role and family illness. We both want this badly but DH is feeling some performance pressure and not ejaculating / losing erection during sex. It’s frustrating for us both when I’m ovulating and really get us both down.
I just wondered if anyone had successfully tried home insemination? I think it’s a good idea so we can be a bit more spontaneous with sex and take any pressure off but reassured that we have more chance of conceiving by adding this into the routine.
I have bought some bits off amazon (flat head syringes, “specimen” cups 😂and a cheapy conception cup type thing)
any hand holding / reassurance / experiences greatly appreciated.
It feels strange and clinical to be considering it but I am a bit hormone baby crazy and willing to give anything a go, but feel a bit embarrassed talking to anyone IRL about it because of taboo around ED.

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Original poster
FSGirl · 08/11/2023 18:42

@Gkb90 I don’t know if it’s further up the thread but I had exactly the same, weirdly not on the first try but definitely on the second. Unfortunately we’ve not had success yet but I don’t think we timed it right last month.
I think the theory is if you were doing things “traditionally” there would be leakage too so things get where they need to despite that. Good luck!!!!

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BananaPalm · 08/11/2023 19:02

We also did it and it might have been the thing what actually worked. After a few months o TTC the pressure was too much so we had no other option.

We got sterile cups (for wee) and sterile syringes to make sure I don't give myself some infection and just... well, made it work. It was a sanity saver. I wish it was "taught" by GPs as part of your TTC journey. Particularly if it takes a long time.

Gkb90 · 08/11/2023 19:11

@FSGirl I do get leakage doing it the ‘traditional’ way but I will defo try AI again, I’ve got two more sets of cups and syringes from my two plus pack left, I will defo opt for getting the stuff from Amazon next time as two plus costs way too much! Hope you’re getting on well x

Mischance · 08/11/2023 19:16

moosey89 · 17/09/2023 17:10

@FSGirl I'm glad, me too! I am keeping everything crossed we all get BFPs soon ☺️

Might be best not to keep your legs crossed ........

Original poster
FSGirl · 08/11/2023 19:17

We are having a break this month, mainly because when I was ovulating DH was away for work and it’s actually been nice having a bit of headspace from it. But back on it for November, hoping for an early BFP Christmas present! ❤️

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moosey89 · 08/11/2023 20:36

@Mischance ok perhaps not legs 😂

I'm on to cycle 4 post my most recent miscarriage now. This month I'm distracted from the actual act of AI/TTC by the fact I have both the fertility clinic and miscarriage clinic appointments within 2 weeks of each other. So a big month no matter what happens!

CurlyWurly1991 · 20/11/2023 11:57

@FSGirl @Mischance @moosey89 @Gkb90 how is everyone getting on with AI? We had to do more of this on the latest cycle as my partner is injured. Certainly helps to have a back up plan but I’m not sure how effective it will be compared to the traditional way. It’s also a lot less fun !!

Gkb90 · 20/11/2023 17:50

@CurlyWurly1991 we only done it once this cycle using AI and it was a bit of a mess for me as it seemed like everything came out after I took out the syringe! My AF is due on Thursday so will see how well it worked if it did work but luckily we did it the ‘traditional’ way also. How are you getting on with AI? X

moosey89 · 20/11/2023 21:58

@CurlyWurly1991 standard for us, using it every month 😂 this is cycle 4 since my latest miscarriage.

GoingToInfinity · 21/11/2023 18:44

We did DIY AI successfully. We had a chemical pregnancy in June which was absolutely devastating as my DH had problems with delayed ejaculation due to the medication he's on so we'd found it very hard to conceive.
We decided that we couldn't face trying to get pregnant the traditional way again for a while as 1) it had been so difficult to concieve naturally anyway and 2) grieving the baby that wasn't to be meant we just couldn't bring ourselves to DTD.
Anyway, the very next cycle we had two attempts at AI, one a day before ovulation and another a day after ovulation if I got my calculations right. We got pregnant immediately and I'm now 24 weeks pregnant with my very wanted baby girl.
We used cheapy cups and syringes from amazon, waited 10 minutes before insemination and then I get my legs in the air whilst simulating an orgasm (contracting my vagina). I just wanted to jump on and say it is possible and to hope all of you lovely ladies success.

CurlyWurly1991 · 21/11/2023 19:20

Aw @GoingToInfinity thank you for posting!! Congratulations on your pregnancy!! Great to hear a lovely success story.

@moosey89 loads of luck to you. Where are you in your cycle atm?

@Gkb90 ah loads of luck for testing this week! We mix with ‘traditional’ dtd as well…. Although this cycle it was a bit before my most fertile days I think. I’m only 2dpo so will be testing next Sunday 3rd if no AF by then.

Sunshineclouds11 · 21/11/2023 20:19

@GoingToInfinity Congrats!
28 weeks with our AI little girl too!

Gkb90 · 21/11/2023 21:52

@GoingToInfinity wow congratulations!! so lovely to hear more success stories, do you have the links on Amazon on what you used? I’m currently using ‘two plus’ and they are super expensive

@CurlyWurly1991 let me know how your testing goes! I’m REALLY trying to hold out till the day I’m due on I always end up testing early and get so deflated seeing BFN’s so holding out as much as I can!! Two more days to go till I can test but I’m getting some cramps so hoping it’s not my AF letting me know it’s coming 😭

GoingToInfinity · 22/11/2023 08:23

@Gkb90

I didn't get a kit just separate ovulation tests, cups and syringes.

One Step 40 x Highly Sensitive Ovulation Strip Tests + 10 x Highly Sensitive Pregnancy Test Strips (tests up to 6 days earlier) amzn.eu/d/4ZsAR2P

Pinenuts Disposable Urine Cups, 60 Pcs Plastic Urine Collection Cups, 40 ML Urine Specimen Cups for Pregnancy Ovulation Test(40ml) amzn.eu/d/c5jfrcB

10ml Sterile Disposable Plastic Hypodermic Syringe (Pack of 10) amzn.eu/d/bd2qeH8

@Sunshineclouds11 @CurlyWurly1991 thank you so much ❤️

LilPearl · 27/11/2023 18:03

Hey ladies, my wife and I are new to this. No success after our first try last month with a donor and due to ovulate in 2 weeks and try again.

We are wondering how to make it more likely to be successful this month! We used flat head syringe, pre-seed, orgasm and legs in air. I'm wondering if there is an issue as our donor has to deliver it so it is out in the cold for 5-10 mins. Any ideas on how to keep it warmer. When we get it should we put it straight in?

Also probs tmi but has anyone considering positioning being different. I.e on all fours? Honestly I got the idea by thinking "animals always get pregnant first time" 😂

Sunshineclouds11 · 27/11/2023 19:02

how's the donor keeping it when bringing it to you? it needs to be kept next to the body for warmth. assuming it's liquified by the time it gets to you i'd transfer straight away.

i didn't use pressed or orgasm tbh, i literally inserted and some pelvic floor exercises.

GoingToInfinity · 27/11/2023 20:03

@LilPearl is there somewhere in the house they can go and produce the sample, or would that be too uncomfortable for you/them?

Original poster
FSGirl · 04/12/2023 08:42

Hope everyone is getting on ok. November was a no go, and we had a month off because DH was away for work right in my fertile period!
Thought we’d be reliant on insemination this month because of stress/illness but actually think the breaks done us good and haven’t needed it this month! I think knowing it’s there as a back up has massively taken the pressure off.

So I’m now in the TWW - I can test from 20th December so that would be a nice but in reality I think we will be back to AI from early January 😊

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AJcats22 · 04/12/2023 09:25

im also in my TWW! We havent tried AI yet as we also found having a break last cycle helped us be more relaxed. If it doesnt happen for us by the end of january we will try AI, hoping with some holidays over xmas we will feel more relaxed and itll happen naturally.

only BD the one time during my cycle there and it was on ovulation day, not expecting anything but fingers crossed for us!!

CurlyWurly1991 · 04/12/2023 19:04

@FSGirl got my bfp yesterday. Definitely an AI as DH had a back injury so only did this over fertile week. It works!

LavenderSweetPea · 04/12/2023 19:40

Congratulations @CurlyWurly1991 !

Original poster
FSGirl · 04/12/2023 23:07

Aww congratulations @CurlyWurly1991 !! That is such lovely news 😊

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Soulsta · 04/12/2023 23:54

Congratulations @CurlyWurly1991

New here, been reading about home insemination and very interested! My DH also gets performance anxiety so might give this a go next cycle.

Can I ask, why the semen needs to be kept at room temperature for 10 to 15mins before inseminating? Just thinking if its come from his warm body, it would already be warm and liquidated no?

Also do you orgasm before insemination or after, or insert it at the same time. Sorry if TMI- genuinely curious about how it works!

AJcats22 · 05/12/2023 07:57

Congratulations!!!!! Great to hear another positive ai story!

Sconehenge · 05/12/2023 08:01

Congratulations @CurlyWurly1991 !!! That’s so exciting.

We did our first AI test on Sunday, my DP has an injury too this month which makes sex a bit of painful for him. We’re not even in fertile window we just wanted to try it out 😂 honestly I really liked it. I feel like when TTC I spend the entire time having sex just thinking “come already!!!!” And never orgasm myself because I can’t really get out of my head at all - just doing the syringe feels a lot more aligned to where my head is at lol lol.

But I think we will try to do it naturally this week as well if he feels up to it, but at least we don’t have to do it every second day without fail, so I feel a lot more confident.

I was reading that you should locate your cervix before doing the syringe so that you’re aiming for the right spot.