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

[Elliottsmum]

Hello ladies,

Short story..
Been lurking for 2 months, just joined today. We had #1TTC on Halloween but AF showed up today, my wife is incredibly disappointed because she thought she was pregnant.
Big question, well 2 actually
1. anyone using preseed with donor sperm?
2. does at home insemination work with IUI prep sperm? (it was all they had left and the clinic said it was the same)

 

[RubyRainbows]

Hello ladies,

Short story..
Been lurking for 2 months, just joined today. We had #1TTC on Halloween but AF showed up today, my wife is incredibly disappointed because she thought she was pregnant.
Big question, well 2 actually
1. anyone using preseed with donor sperm?
2. does at home insemination work with IUI prep sperm? (it was all they had left and the clinic said it was the same)

:wave: Hi! I know some girls are using preseed, i have not tried it yet. But think maybe i should start... need to step it up & try some more techniques now that we are heading towards our 6th cycle TTC!

And yes, the fertility clinic had told us also that using IUI samples would be fine... although i think they were more expensive if i remember correctly?

Good luck Lea & Tenleys on your 2WW!

 

[Nimyra]

I'm not an expert, but my understanding was that you wouldn't want to use IUI prepped sperm at home because it is washed, so all the stuff the sperm use to survive a couple of extra days is gone (no food) so they won't live as long - hence the need to be injected into the uterus. Am I wrong here?

I used preseed some cycles.

 

[RubyRainbows]

I'm not an expert, but my understanding was that you wouldn't want to use IUI prepped sperm at home because it is washed, so all the stuff the sperm use to survive a couple of extra days is gone (no food) so they won't live as long - hence the need to be injected into the uterus. Am I wrong here?

I used preseed some cycles.

Hhmmm... i'm not sure. That's not what the guy at the sperm bank told me when i was placing the order. I didn't order IUI but he said i could if i wanted, when the donor i selected only had IUI samples available at that moment. I went with a different donor tho, instead.

 

[snagglepat]

I've heard the same about IUI samples, but it's not a method we ever tried so I'm no expert.

Luna, I'm so sorry to hear that it's happened again. I hope that some light can be shed at your appointment and that you'll be back with us again soon. x

Best wishes all round,

Gina. x

 

[Tegans Mama]

I have no idea about IUI samples, I've only ever used fresh sperm. Thankyou for luck Ruby, I have no idea at the minute, last month I had a pretty good feeling right from the start. x

 

[mechanica]

Luna - I am SO sorry to hear your news. I really thought this month was your month! I hope your test results shed some light on what is going on.

I'm *finally* on CD1 after being 5 days late! I didn't inseminate last month, so have never been so pleased to get my period!

Elliotsmum - i am going to use preseed this cycle for the first time. I noticed someone say they have an abundance of EWCM at the time of inseminating but i have never been lucky enough to have much so i'm hoping it will help.

Can i ask those who have used it, how much did you actually use? From memory, i think the leaflet says 3ml (sorry, it's in my room and my daughter is sleeping) but that seems like quite a lot! My last donor only produced about 3ml of semen (is that normal?) and i worry that preseed + sperm in equal amount be *too* erm liquidy and might wash it out or something. I am also a worrier!!

I had some bad news this week. I was due to start some counselling for some issues dating back to when i was a kid. I was all gearing up to *finally* get some help and lay all the crap from the past to rest when i got a letter saying they can't help me. I am a bit devastated, tbh. I have tried so many agencies to get help, but i am always out of the catchment/can't afford it or they just can't help me for some reason! I'm going to call them tomorrow to find out the reasons Oh, and my laptop broke too and i have lost everything off it (photos of my daughter's christening, etc) so not a great week.

Still, first month with a new donor so i am feeling positive. Just have to tell my sister that she has to be on hand for babysitting duties. How do all the other singletons manage? My other donor used to come round late, so my daughter was already sleeping, but i am going to be picking this one up from the station.

Anyway, sorry for the epic post again. Can you tell i don't get out much?

 

[topazicatzbet]

good luck to all those entering the 2ww. saving you a seat in 1st tri.

Elliottsmum no idea about the iui, but i used pre seed.

i ve been using the pre packed 3 ml ones but this cycle i bought a tube and used 4 mls each time and my donor only produces anout 2-3 mls and bingo!

mechanica i take callum with me to his for my donations and he looks after him while i inseminate, but he is callums dad and callum sees him regularly now.

 

[EpdTTC]

I agree with Em on this one. Washed IUI sperm does not live as long. If you read Stephanie Brill's book on Lesbian Conception and Pregnancy she talks a bit about this. I believe that washed sperm only live about 12-24 hours, but maybe that is true of all frozen sperm which makes the window of opportunity much smaller than with fresh sperm which can live 3-5 days in the cervix. Don't quote me on this-I need to refresh myself with Brill's book.

 

[Nimyra]

I'm inclined to think that the receptionists at the sperm banks may not know what they are talking about and/or really want to sell you sperm. I'd consult a doctor before taking their word for it that the washed stuff works just as well, just doesn't sound right to me.

 

[EpdTTC]

The responses on this discussion board might be helpful regarding the washed vs unwashed sperm question:
https://www.cryobank.com/bulletin-boards/messages.cfm?threadid=E19A2517-3048-B002-9E8BB74B3CEEBF5B

 

[Nimyra]

Thanks, Erin, that's helpful. Again, I'm not a doctor but here's what I think:

If you are going to use washed sperm, your best bet is probably to do that in conjunction with an IUI AND trigger shot. The trigger shot is probably the more important thing there, because if your timing is off even just a little, you are not likely to conceive with washed sperm. The trigger shot makes you ovulate right away.

Why bother though, really... just get unwashed sperm.

 

[lyvian]

Luna- I'm so sorry and like the other gals I hope they give you some news on your appointment on what can be going on. I will keep you in my prayers and hope to see you back with some awesome news.
Ruby- It's so cool you have you backup donor. I wish we had one. It was so hard getting our one. we will hopefully be trying to again next week. Trying not to think about it to much. I'm just really hoping everything works in our favor since he leaves for two months.
Mommies- THumbs up on how you handled that situation with the school. Have you in my prayers that your little bean keeps on growing strong and healthy
Well, I'm praying for all of us!!!
Tenleys-Fingers cross hoping you will be sharing good news with us soon

 

[Elliottsmum]

Thanks for all the advice. We are going with a different donor this time and using pre-seed so fxed. I just hope he has some ici samples left.

 

[cranberry]

hi ladies. i haven't checked in for a while - still trying not to obsess but i think i am failing miserably at that. i am the quiet storm type so although i may not show it outwardly, i end up losing sleep by waking up way before my alarm is set to go off and then i chastise myself because my temping will get thrown off and then i just end up losing sleep because of all the angst

i am 12dpo, did 2 home insems. my temps are beginning to fall. i am preparing myself for the inevitable but secretly holding out hope for good news by the end of this week.

i console myself (in preparation for the bad news) with two things:

1. i will start iui on the next cycle
2. i have two functions to attend and i can drink (pathetic but whatev)

good luck to all you ladies in the ttc boat

 

[snagglepat]

Hi Cranberry,

It's hard, but as others have proven it isn't over until AF arrives. And at least you can find positives in both outcomes. You'll get there.

Good luck Lyvian. When we got pregnant this time it was from the insemination immediately before our donor went overseas. We even had to do it a few days early in order to fit it in, but it still got us pregnant. Fingers crossed.

And a bit of light relief: I just dropped Ember off at her playgroup. The first thing she said to her key worker when she walked in the door was "Can I have big boobies when I'm a woman?" To her credit, her key worked did manage to reply with "If you're very lucky" before dissolving into fits of laughter. That made my morning! I should add that this was completely out the blue as well. We've had no conversations about boobies, big or otherwise with her for ages. Where do they get it from?

Gina. x

 

[Tegans Mama]

Ember sounds cute Gina. Tegan says inappropriate things too, all the time. She has only just started asking 'whats this?' when pointing to her/my 'bits' - we hadn't agreed on a name to call it when she first started because it just came out of the blue.

On another note, I'm 7dpo today and got the faintest of faint lines on a test last night... Not sure what to think of it but I got BFP's (albeit as faint as last nights) with Tegan and last month aswell at 7dpo.

 

[day_dreamer]

Aww ember sounds a real little cheeky chops!
Love your new.profile pic Gina!

And Lea! Omg! Exciting! Fingers crossed for you

xxx

 

[LunaBean]

Ohh Lea, I hope this is your bfp! I always get mine at 7dpo too!

Im just about to text my donor to let him know the test results came back normal, and see if he still wants to help us

 

[EpdTTC]

Fingers crossed Lea that it's a BFP!

Cranberry-don't beat yourself up for obsessing-we all do it regardless of how hard we try not to.

Gina-The joy of children! That's hilarious and sweet. Loving your new profile pic! Whoa! What a beautiful bump. I am almost 23 weeks and bump is definitely growing, hard to believe that in 7 more weeks it will look like that! Awesome!

Luna-I wish the Drs could have told you more. I hate that you have to wait so long for further testing. Maybe you should move to the USA for a bit! I think they would help you much quicker here! When I had my miscarriages they tested me for everything under the sun, including the auto immune disorders-that is how they found out I have thrombophilia. It amazes me how much longer my girls across the pond have to wait for help with miscarriage issues. I say you might as well keep trying in the mean time if you feel up for it. Hugs.