Home insemination

[FSGirl]

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.

@FSGirl its a good question. I am not really tracking this month as I’m fed up of OPKs and temping. Usually I manage between 1-4 per cycle but no idea if i have caught ov this time and just done 2. The cycle I conceived I managed to do 3 days leading up to and including ovulation. I think the advantage of the ‘relax and just dtd!’ That is often said to help is kind of difficult with this method. Although following libido seems to help quite a bit.

Hey everyone, so nice reading this thread as I am just starting this journey trying for our 2nd. Posted a post about how to talk to my husband about it then saw this thread - any advice appreciated.

@FSGirl I done 3/4 times a cycle.

@Cherry85 we had already talked about the pressure of it so I brought it up and said there is no harm in trying, takes the pressure off and be less stressful. He agreed off the bat, I think he felt abit relieved tbh

@CurlyWurly1991 I am another one fed up with OPKs. I originally got a pack of cheap amazon ones but spent a bit more once they ran out because they didn’t seem to work. So I got the clear blue digital which just took the stress of trying to interpret them out a bit.
@Cherry85 I brought it up with DH and just said I think we’re both feeling the pressure and wonder if this would help. He has quite a lot of work & family stress, and obviously with having a child already it’s harder to he spontaneous when you’re tired, they’re not sleeping well or whatever. He is now very used to being sent upstairs with his little specimen cup 😄 also waited until AF had come so he had a bit of time to feel comfortable with it before my ovulation window. A few days before I said again is it ok if I order these bits (syringe/cups) to try it and I think that helped so he had time to think it through as well.

We started every other day just before my anticipated fertile window, then every day when my cervical mucus/OPKs indicated ovulation was close.

My last cycle (which was successful, currently 35 weeks pregnant) is attached, total of 6 AI "sessions".

We start from the day LH starts to rise, to the day after OV, so around 3-4days, all done via SI

Hows everyone getting on?

Home inseminated today using preseed, so much of both preseed and semen came out instantly, I tried plugging it with one hand and pulling the the syringd out with the other but didnt quite work. And then trying to push in a fertilily cup...complete mess 🥴

I wish the fertilily had an option to inject / transfer the semen through the stem, straight into the base of the cup, so no leakage

@JS5 currently lying with my legs in the air for 15 atlftwr our first HI attempt 🤣🙈

What is preseed? Novice here!

@Cherry85 such fun 🤣. Preseed is sperm friendly lubricant which mimics cervical mucus to help sperm travel up, I use this as don't get much cm around ovavulation

Unfortunately AF arrived 3days ago, onto 5th cycle with HI. This is the only method we are using atm, I wonder how many sperm die in the process of going into a container then into a syringe and then inside

I'm sorry I've been silently following this thread and too scared to anything. But I have a stupid question.

I expect the answer is back in the thread but hoping someone will be kind enough to repeat.

So. Doing HS because I have bad endo which basically obliterates one of my ovaries. sex is painful for me so it's about maximising chances while minimising pain. (We don't have £ for IVF).

So DH does the deed into a sterile cup. Is the ideal that that is then directly injected into me? Can it be stored for any length of to me? (And if so how)?

Also, does anyone have any recommendations as to syringes / specimen cups etc?

Fwiw we have one child- that was very hard won (three years TTC, miscarriage 3 x surgery for me to try and clear endo and make me more fertile). I don't have time on my side, I also have very low ovarian reserve so it's not a positive picture. Any help very very gratefully received x

I waited until the sperm liquified so probs 5 mins max.
Keep the pot warm so hold against your body.

I literally used a Calpol syringe. Inserted left for 5 mins and took out.

You will get fall out as you do with sex but don't worry it's not all of it.

Keep legs up after if you wanted but I never, I used to do it before bed so I didn't have to get up.

I had to have IVF for my first and got my second baby doing this method.

Good luck 🍀

@seasaltwater I did exactly what @Sunshineclouds11 did and had 2 successful pregnancies. I used a calpol syringe and the sample went in a washed yoghurt pot. I did keep my legs propped up for a bit.

how’s everyone going?
We've had a bit of a break from TTC because I was getting a bit testing obsessed and think the mental break has done me good!
keeping everything crossed for those still trying using home insemination!

I had my first fertility appointment this week. I discussed that we are ttc via home insemination and the dr gave a surprising look and shared these were methods from medieval time and that it's not effective method. I shared that due to my husband having problem which he is undergoing treatment for atm, we sent able to do it the normal way so rather than waste time we are being proactive and doing what we can. She seemed so confused

Now I'm questioning whether SI really works, or if success rate is much lower than normal method. We've been doing SI for nearly 5months now and no luck, not even even a faint bfp😞

Read through previous posts and clearly it's worked for some. Trying to stay hopeful

I've had 2 BFPs with home ai (sadly both ended in miscarriage but that's nothing to do with the method of conception!).

If you think about it there's no reason why it wouldn't work! Your doctor sounds narrow minded 🤣 also worth keeping in mind if they are a private fertility doctor then they want your money! So won't advocate for home solutions.

@JS5 I’m proof it does work (twice) and the method was recommended to me by an NHS doctor. As pp said, private doctors want your money!

Thanks both, very reassuring. It was an NHS doctor, and tbh I was suprised by the ir reaction as would've thought they've seen and heard it all

Can I ask for some tips, did you steralise all the equipment each time before use, of just wash with normal water? I'm sterilising it between uses but if it's a task I can remove would be great.

Sorry @JS5 that sounds like a really disheartening experience. I think describing it as medieval wasn’t exactly constructive on your doctors part and it’s not like you try a method like this for the fun of it!

I’ve been using a new sterilised syringe each time (they’re individually wrapped) and washing the cup in boiling water so I guess that counts as sterilising? But not using sterilising equipment.

@JS5 I use a new syringe every time - they're just not designed to be reused so I feel more comfortable using a new sterile one each time.

@JS5 I used a new syringe each time. My pregnancies were from the calpol syringes. I also used to buy some extra oral medicine syringes from the chemist.
I used a new yoghurt pot each time for the sample. I just washed that rather than sterilise because I figured if it was hygienic enough to be eaten from then it was clean.
Lots of luck to you.

@JS5 Also to add, some doctors just aren’t very pleasant. My gynaecologist laughed at me when I told her the method I had used. No care at all for the struggle, pain and desperation involved in taking that route.

Thank you everyone. That's exactly how I felt, no empathy for the situation I'm in.

If it's not too much trouble, can you share links or photos where you bought your syringes from. I'm looking on Amazon but they not round end like my current one, I'd be too scared to poke myself inside with the pointy ends lol

Thanks so much 💕

That sounds incredibly disheartening and frustrating.

I've had two pregnancies (one chemical, one successful) using the home insemination method. There was 0 sex involved during the cycle I conceived my newborn DD (she's 5 weeks old), so I can say it definitely works!

Using pure common sense (I'm not medical) I can't see how the odds would be that much different to traditional sex as long as you're ensuring that fresh sperm is deposited in your vagina frequently during your fertile window.

Re sterilising, I used a fresh syringe each time as they're hard to clean, but didn't sterilise the collection pot, just washed well with hot soapy water. Penises aren't sterile, after all!

Heya, I use these.... those look ouch @FSGirl 🤣

10pcs Vaginal Applicators Disposable Liquid Injector Suppository Aid Shooter Helps to Conceive at Home Syringe Tools for Female - 92 Long 3-8g https://amzn.eu/d/1yNkcYy