Considering at-home insemination with donor sperm...?

[kezza78]

Hi all,

I'm after some advice. I've just bought some IC opk's and was wondering when's the best time of day to do them. I've been using the CB digital (smiley face) opk's in the past but thought i'd give these ago as well.

 

[Tegans Mama]

Tegan's Mama, we do have a contract with our known donor but it's one he'd used with a previous recipient. Our solicitor did look it over when we were going through getting PR for DP and she said it was fine. I haven't heard of needing any paperwork to prove conception was through AI for the new birth certificates. Our understanding is that just rocking up to the registry office with your CP certificate and both your sets of ID will be enough. I think that's all our friends who've done that this year have had to do.

If you did want to have a contract with your donor here are some links to things that might help:

https://www.spermdonors.org.uk/sperm-donation-agreement-deed-KD.pdf

https://www.knowndonor.com/contract.php

It won't have a lot of legal weight but it can be helpful to go through with your donor to make sure you've discussed everything and are really on the same page.

One of the other forums I use regularly has a dedicated LGBT section and it's very active. I definitely think one would be worthwhile here. It would be much easier than having to scroll through hundreds of posts in one thread to find a reference/link that someone mentioned a while ago like we have to now.

Best wishes to all,

Gina. x

Thanks for that hun.

I was looking on the 'other' forum you use a lot yesterday, I spotted you and told OH you also use BnB so was hoping you might be able to help
Hayley got a bit upset when we read that you might need paperwork to prove baby was conceived through AI, since our donor has agreed to be our donor on the condition that there is absolutely no contact after, and therefore no paperwork etc...

How if your pregnancy going?x

 

[RubyRainbows]

Lea -- i like Tegan's quote in your signature -- too cute! As i read it, i envisioned Tegan having a baby sister named Peyton! Tegan & Peyton would be awesome names for siblings! Lol -- not sure why that popped into my head!

Another TMI question -- how much semen is (on average) usually provided? With frozen sperm it arrived in an itsybitsy little straw thing........ i was shocked it was such a tiny amount!

 

[topazicatzbet]

i get an average 2-3 ml sample from my donor.

 

[Tegans Mama]

Haha RubyRainbows, it was so funny when we asked her that! It was after we'd taken her to meet her new baby cousin Lacey. She fed the baby a bottle of formula and gave her loads of bit cuddles We have our names planned out already and have for about a year now!

As far as the 'deposit' goes.. I have no idea! We used two donors at the same time last time - both deposits in the same pot mixed together, so no idea how much there was. Plus they drew it up into the syringe for us. They were our best friends - a married gay couple.

 

[snagglepat]

Tegan's mama, the pregnancy is going well, thanks. It's flying. I'll be glad when we get just a few more weeks in from a viability perspective, but that's just because I'm paranoid. I'm getting big now and physically I'm slowing down, which feels a bit early, but so be it. I'm getting kicked regularly and all the lovely stuff like heartburn and spd are kicking in. It'll all be worth it - and I've had such an easy ride of it so far that it seems only fair I should suffer somehow...

I didn't know you used that other forum. Do you post there or are you a lurker? I have to admit it's been my biggest source of support over the last, ooh, five or six years since we started on this journey and I've made some great friends through it.

Ruby, our donor usually produces 2-3ml, however our previous donor would sometimes produce as much as 5ml. I think when you use frozen sperm they take a regular donation and split it into several 'doses' so I'm not surprised to hear it was a tiny amount. There would still have been millions in that tiny straw though, and it only takes one...

Gina. x

 

[kezza78]

Hi Gina, glad to hear your pregnancy is going well!! What other forum do you use? Pm me if that's easier x

 

[snagglepat]

Kezza,

PM sent.

Gina. x

 

[EpdTTC]

Ruby-as far as how much semen we got from our donor, I would say that on average it was about 2 cc or ml. Probably about 3-4 times what you get with frozen stuff.

 

[Goose]

Hello

Doing our first at home insemination in a couple weeks. I'm using the ovacue to time it...and possible opk as a back up since this is my first time using the ovacue. I'm ordering an insemination kit, so that part is covered. I'm just really nervous about the TIMING!! I'm praying that we get it right. We've been TTC for 30 months , so hopefully this method will help us conceive our lil' miracle soon....I'd be on !!!!!

I have some questions about all this if you'd be okay with it....Thanks!

So, what did you all use for timing?

Did it work, how many cycles did it take?

How many hours before or after + opk or other O predictor did you inseminate (like - 2, +12, +24, etc)? How many times did you insem per cycle?


How long have you been using the home insemination method?

Do you have big O after or before? Also, I wonder if oral is okay after to help get big O??

Thanks sooooo much!!!! This is such a nervous and confusing time and I'm so glad I found this group!

 

[topazicatzbet]

hey goose, i just replied to your other post.

was gonna point you in this direction but you ve already found us. lol

 

[Tegans Mama]

Hello

Doing our first at home insemination in a couple weeks. I'm using the ovacue to time it...and possible opk as a back up since this is my first time using the ovacue. I'm ordering an insemination kit, so that part is covered. I'm just really nervous about the TIMING!! I'm praying that we get it right. We've been TTC for 30 months , so hopefully this method will help us conceive our lil' miracle soon....I'd be on !!!!!

I have some questions about all this if you'd be okay with it....Thanks!

So, what did you all use for timing?

Did it work, how many cycles did it take?

How many hours before or after + opk or other O predictor did you inseminate (like - 2, +12, +24, etc)? How many times did you insem per cycle?


How long have you been using the home insemination method?

Do you have big O after or before? Also, I wonder if oral is okay after to help get big O??

Thanks sooooo much!!!! This is such a nervous and confusing time and I'm so glad I found this group!

Timing wise when we tried for Tegan, it was mostly guesswork on my part (I'm very regular) and I used OPK's to make sure. We'll do the same this time, except since I had Tegan I get a lot of pain when I O. When I got pregnant, we inseminated 48hours before I O'ed, around 24 hours before and then the morning after I got the positive OPK.

I had an orgasm everytime afterwards, Hayley would insert the goods at the critical point but unless you partner wants baby juice in their mouth, I would avoid oral. Also, the enzymes in saliva kill sperm.

 

[Tegans Mama]

Tegan's mama, the pregnancy is going well, thanks. It's flying. I'll be glad when we get just a few more weeks in from a viability perspective, but that's just because I'm paranoid. I'm getting big now and physically I'm slowing down, which feels a bit early, but so be it. I'm getting kicked regularly and all the lovely stuff like heartburn and spd are kicking in. It'll all be worth it - and I've had such an easy ride of it so far that it seems only fair I should suffer somehow...

I didn't know you used that other forum. Do you post there or are you a lurker? I have to admit it's been my biggest source of support over the last, ooh, five or six years since we started on this journey and I've made some great friends through it.

Ruby, our donor usually produces 2-3ml, however our previous donor would sometimes produce as much as 5ml. I think when you use frozen sperm they take a regular donation and split it into several 'doses' so I'm not surprised to hear it was a tiny amount. There would still have been millions in that tiny straw though, and it only takes one...

Gina. x

Glad your pregnancy is going well hun, I would welcome slowing down and heartburn now, we've waited over a year to start ttc, although I am sure I'll regret saying that once I'm pregnant

We joined last night. We were having a good browse trying to find out how we'd stand without the paperwork xx

 

[Nimyra]

Welcome, Goose! Try to relax -- it may take a few cycles, but hopefully you'll get your BFP soon.

So, what did you all use for timing?
- temping, tracking cervical mucus, and the ovwatch

Did it work, how many cycles did it take?
-yes, bfp on second cycle trying with a sperm donor

How many hours before or after + opk or other O predictor did you inseminate (like - 2, +12, +24, etc)? How many times did you insem per cycle?
-- I wasn't a huge fan of opks because sometimes I wouldn't get clear positive
readings. I inseminated 2 days prior to ovulation and day before or day of ovulation (as predicted by other methods)

How long have you been using the home insemination method?
I got pregnant on my second cycle using a donor. This was after about 9 months trying with my husband who in turned out was infertile.

Do you have big O after or before? Also, I wonder if oral is okay after to help get big O??
Sometimes I O'd after inseminating. Other times, I just inseminated and skipped the O.

Good luck!

 

[Goose]

Lea~ Thanks. I didn't think about it like that. I figured it would be deep inside enough that it wouldn't. Yea...I don't think my hubby would like that...gross! lol.

Em~ I know, your right I need to stay relaxed. We've just spent so much $ already over the last 2-1/2 years. IVF,IUI,VR,VC......yikes! And now it's like $1k/mo. Oh well...I gotta keep my cool and think happy thoughts (o: Thanks.

 

[LunaBean]

Snagglepat, I use the other forum too, have saw ur posts a few times! I have a different username on there tho, and mostly lurk!

 

[EpdTTC]

Hi Goose! Welcome!

Here are my answers:

So, what did you all use for timing?

OPKs, Tracking cervical mucus,

Did it work, how many cycles did it take?

Yes! I am almost 15 weeks pregnant! I did two at home cycles with no luck. Then I did a clomid + IUI cycle and got pregnant but miscarried. Did a second Clomid + IUI cycle and got pregnant again, but miscarried again. I took a couple months off from trying and I planned to do another Clomid + IUI cycle in July, but just for shits and giggles, at the last minute, I casually decided to do another at-home cycle in June. My attitude was well it can't hurt and I was planning IUI the next month anyway, so I was just relaxed about it and BINGO! It worked! So really, I got pregnant with my third at home insemination.

How many hours before or after + opk or other O predictor did you inseminate (like - 2, +12, +24, etc)? How many times did you insem per cycle?

The cycle that I got pregnant I inseminated myself about one hour after +OPK (got a +OPK about 9pm and inseminated about 10pm) and then the next afternoon, about 16 hours after +OPK (around 1:30pm) my partner did the insemination. I think that I ovulated around 5:30pm that day.


How long have you been using the home insemination method?

November 2009-home insemination
December 2009-home insemination
January 2010-IUI (pregnant but miscarried)
March 2010-IUI (pregnant but miscarried)
June 2010-home insemination-almost 15 wks pregnant


Do you have big O after or before? Also, I wonder if oral is okay after to help get big O??

The first two home insemination cycles I O'd before inseminations. The cycle that I got pregnant, I O'd after both inseminations. I put in an Instead cup after I inseminated so that I wouldn't lose any during my big O. Both times I brought myself to O as I was concerned that if I had partner sex that I'd risk losing more of the goods.

Good luck! I will say this-I was living in a stressful environment (with my ex) and I moved at the end of May 2010. I was much less stressed and had a carefree attitude about trying at home in June 2010. I got pregnant about four weeks after I moved. I can't help but think that stress played a role in my previous attempts and miscarriages. If you look back through the threads, I think you will find a post of mine where I was undecided about even trying the month that I got pregnant. It was very last minute. I did an OPK for the heck of it and it was positive...and my womanly urges got the best of me and I called up my donor. Best decision I ever made!

 

[Goose]

EpdTTC~ Thank you so much! I love hearing all of these wonderful stories and helpful tips. It really helps so much. I agree, relaxed is the way to go my friend...It's probably what did the trick for you (o: Congratulations!! (o: I'm getting so excited!

 

[RubyRainbows]

Hi Goose & welcome! Are you using frozen sperm from a sperm bank? We had 3 attempts with frozen sperm & no luck.........

This month we are hoping to meet up with a donor we met online.... and attempt with fresh sperm.......

Have you considered this option? Frozen sperm is so expensive! After spending a couple thousand dollars, we decided to try this instead........

Haven't actually done it yet, so have to see what i think after we meet the donor & inseminate!

Best of luck tho! Glad you found us!!

 

[LunaBean]

If you look back through the threads, I think you will find a post of mine where I was undecided about even trying the month that I got pregnant. It was very last minute. I did an OPK for the heck of it and it was positive...and my womanly urges got the best of me and I called up my donor. Best decision I ever made!

Lol..I did that the last cycle I got pregnant..I just hapened to poas and the opk was almost positive, text the donor who happened to be at a conference in the hotel 10 minutes from my house...he was at my door with 'the goods' about 30 minutes later, and 2 week later I was pregnant! Oh..and my OH knew nothing about it, until I showed her the positive test, lmao I did miscarry that baby too, but my HCG rose the highest that time and I stayed pregnant longest.

Maybe by the 30th attempt I'll get a baby at the end of it!!