IUI timing question (frozen donor sperm)

[FrenchNameChange]

Hi everyone,

Hoping someone can tell me if there's any hope for this cycle.
I did a natural cycle IUI, no stims, no trigger. Here's how it went.

CD9 - Massive 18mm follicle already
CD11 - Follicle now 22mm
CD12 - 7am Neg OPK clear blue advanced ovulation (flashy smiley)
------ 10am Positive OPK clear blue advanced ovulation (solid smiley)
CD13 -11.30am - IUI using frozen donor sperm.
CD14 - 2-3am (I think this is when I actually ovulated)

The reason I'm posting is because after the insemination, the doctor said 'I just want to look at that big follicle' and he scanned me and saw that it was still there, still big and I hadn't ovulated yet. I had significant ovary pain all evening, and it ramped up to a crescendo about 2am then abruptly went away sometime between 2+3am. I believe this was when the follicle popped the egg. If I am right, am I in with a chance?

I've hear frozen sperm just doesn't last very long and ideally, you have the IUI just after ovulation with frozen sperm so the egg is there waiting for them when they're deposited. I'm worried they'll all be dead by the time my egg arrived 14-15 hours later.

What do you think? Anyone got any similar stories? Any encouragement? I'm taking progesterone and it's making me feel rubbish and I'm thinking I'm not in with a chance so I should just call it quits this cycle.

I'm not an expert (I've had 1 successful iui and 1 round trying fir #2)
But I'm pretty sure they want it the other way around. Sperm shoukd wait for egg. Eggs can only be fertilised for the first 24 hours and sperm can survive for up to 5 days.
My first iui was unmedicated. I got the static smiley at around 10am and had the iui 24 hours later. Resulted in my dd.
This time was medicated, triggered 36 hours before iui.
Still in the tww so not sure if successful yet. Hope that helps and good luck.

Thanks @CherryBlossom100, did you use frozen donor sperm for that successful cycle? Frozen sperm only lasts for 'up to' 24 hours apparently. Fresh sperm can last up to 5 days, as you say, so timing is less crucial.

Mine was frozen donor sperm.
Honestly sounds like your timing was pretty perfect. Good luck!

2 IUIs, 2 unmedicated cycles and 2 DS later I'm fairly certain ovulated after IUi with frozen sperm.

Rest up, don't worry and try to wait the full 2 weeks before weeing on a stick 🤣.

Brilliant, thank you to you both, you've given me some hope. I packed in my hope earlier today and just went to a very strenuous yoga class, hopefully that was ok if my timing wasn't off after all! x

No worries. What day are you on? Maybe we can wait together. I'm 5dpo. Official test day is 17th March.

Me too! 5dpo, Iui was Wednesday. Are you taking progesterone? I wish I wasn't. I was pregnant last year but miscarried in December. The progesterone is making me feel pregnant again already which is a bit of a mind bender. How are you feeling? @CherryBlossom100

Yep. Also on progesterone gel. Lots of cramps and a few moments of nausea. Home from work today with nasty throat infection. Been feeling under the weather since the iui. Hopefully won't affect my chances.
I also had a trigger injection to start ovulation so been taking a pregnancy test each day as the trigger makes pregnancy tests positive for a few days. Wanted to know when it was out of my system so can take a real pregnancy test before official test day. I'm very impatient. 😆

And sorry for your loss. Fingers crossed for your rainbow baby.

I did exactly the same last month. I convinced myself I wasn't finding it stressful testing out my trigger, but in hindsight I was not relaxed. That's why I opted for a natural cycle this month. Hope you feel better very soon. I am going to (try to) hold out of testing unto 20dpo. Because of the progesterone making period late etc, thought that would mean it'll be here by then, and if not I'll test. I always have this intention and never last though, so we will see! Hope you feel better very soon x

The clinic wanted the medicated cycle. I'd have been happier with natural. Especially as single mother by choice so no known Fertility issues. My normal cycle is 26 days but the folicles weren't ready until day 17 of my cycle but they said that cycle will probably be longer due to the clomid and progesterone. The daily testing is my way of staying in control I guess. How many iuis have you had?

Which clinic are you with? I'm also an SMBC, and I really had to push for a natural cycle. The really tried to push me to trigger, and in the end I had to get quite firm with them. Reminded them that their website said they offer natural cycle IUI and I have no problems ovulating, so it's totally unnecessary. They didn't like it, but it's what I paid for so I stood firm. I understand the control thing. The only cycle i've ever conceived is when I wasn't tracking or testing at all (surprise baby from a ONS with an ex, missed my period), that's the one I lost. So this month I threw all the temping stuff and tests out and decided to let go of the control. It's hard!! This is my second cycle of IUI. Nice to see another smbc going through this at the same time. This is your second child?

Yes. DD is 4 and also conceived with donor sperm. I'm with bourn Hall this time as closer to my house but dd was conceived at harley Street fc.
I think the clinics like to control when the procedure happens but I feel like its taken a little away from my body, which is perfectly capable of doing it all. But I wont be complaining if I get a bfp. 🤣
There were two good sized follicles on my scan too so a little more hope.
Good for you for standing your ground. The drugs are not much fun. I've had quite a short temper and really tired since I started the clomid.

Do you mind me asking if you used the same donor? I think you're right, clinics like to control the timing. They wanted to trigger me on monday and do the IUI tuesday, but I didn't actually ovulate until the thursday, so I think it would have been too soon and I'm glad I did my own tracking and a natural cycle in the end. If this doesn't work, I'll try round 3 with the trigger again. Sorry to hear the drugs made you a bit loopy, any hormones do the same to me!

Different donor. I didnt think I wanted two children 4years ago so I didn't reserve a slot for a sibling or keep a stock of the donor sperm so it was run out.
It doesn't really matter to me because we are our own little family. I can only see it being an issue if the children want to trace the donor at 18 and get differing responses but we will cross that bridge at that time.

@CherryBlossom100 How are you getting on? I'm fighting the urge to test! I thought I only had one clear blue in, which I was planning to use on test day, but I just found an easy at home strip in the cupboard... now I'm not sure I'll be able to ignore it. I guess I'll be 9dpo tomorrow, might try and save that until Sunday. Official test day is Wednesday.

I'm ok. The progesterone symptoms are a bit of a headfuck really. Not feeling very hopeful at the moment. The trigger is gone now so see if anything happens.

Totally agree re the progesterone. It's shit feeling pregnant when you might not be!

Heres my reverse line progression. Newest at the bottom and I think I see it a little darker. Clearer in person. Was hard to take a pic. Will have to see what the next few days brings.

Ooh yeh maybe!!

@FrenchNameChange

Are you going to try and hold out until Wednesday?

I'd like to try. But may cave on Sunday, as that's the first day I feel there would really be a line. How are you getting on? Any more progress?

This is my first response this evening. I did one a few days ago and there was no line so think I'm safe from trigger.

Ahhh congratulations!! What day was your IUI? That's a strong enough line already!!

Last Wednesday. So 9dpo. I got my daughter's positive on 9dpo so just couldn't resist testing. Its still so early though.