vaginismus iui

[Ragnhild]

Hi all... I'm new here so maybe something similar has already been posted. I was just wondering if there is anyone else with vaginismus out there who went the IUI route. Last year when I hit 30 my dh and I decided it was finally ttc time and decided to get help for my vaginismus. There was progress but soooo slow so we decided on the IUI route. Just wondering if anyone else with vaginismus on this forum had success with IUI, or maybe someone else is in the same boat and just wants to share?

 

[msbene]

Hallo! I have vaginismus and am pregnant with my second child. My case was very bad - tampons hurt like a &$*#. With dilator therapy I'm now able to have pelvic exams and use tampons painfree. Intercourse is still hit or miss though. With this pregnancy we used medicinal syringes to deliver the sperm into me.

Have you tried any sort of at-home insemination already?

 

[Ragnhild]

Hi msbene,
Wow congrats on your second pg so great to hear success stories! Tampons are impossible for me and cervical exams the nurse uses a cold gel to help the burning sensation (sorry if tmi). We tried home insem last month but didn't work. Can I ask how you timed the insemination (did you use OPKs or charting) and how far you inserted? I was really scared and took some time to insert so we were wondering if that impairs the chances?

 

[msbene]

Oh I'm glad to be of service! Yes I tracked my cycle for about 4 monthz before the home insemination. Used BBT but no Opks cos I have pretty good cervical mucus signs of ovulation. I tend to ovulate between CD15 and CD18 so we timed insemination for CD14 CD16 and CD17.

I inserted as farrr as the syringe would go. With my middle finger I can barely reach my cervix at ovulation and the syringe was shorter than that so I put it all the way. Squeeze the plunger sloooowwwlyyy cos the first time some sperm squirted out lol.

As far as time healthy sperm are good at room temp for about 20 or so minutes. I would practice insertion with an empty syringe several times before the actual attempt so your body knows all what to expect.

Will you keep trying home insem? How old is your hubby? If the IUI is affordable for you I'd go for it but given your youth I'd first chart my cycle really well, time the at-home insem well and see what happens. You may not need the IUI. With my first I was 30 with this pregnancy I'm almost 36 and both times the home insem worked within months of well-timed intercourse

Im here if you have anymore questions! GOOD LUCK!!

 

[Ragnhild]

Hi msbene,

Thanks so much for all the advice and tips! This forum has been a great help.. I'm using OPKs because the clinic asked me to but others here swear by bbt so I'm thinking of starting that. If you don't mind my asking, how many cycles of home insem did it take before you had your first bfp?

OH is 33 and the clinic did an SA just to be sure before we start the IUI.. He is perfectly fine so no problems there but my tsh was 2.76. It's normal but less than 2.5 is recommended for high fertility. So I'm trying some diet changes to work on that.

We saved for the IUI and can pay for about 2 cycles at a private clinic after which we're hoping to get into the public health line which is considerably cheaper. But still 4 cycles is the max and we will also do home insem on 2 days each cycle. The main reason for opting for IUI was that the slow progress with the vaginismus and the constant stress each month was getting to be too much. Normal ttc is hard enough as I understand, but for us each month brought only anxiety as O neared... We never knew just what I'd be able to do. The clinic turned out to be so calm and peaceful in comparison and the midwife so understanding that we considered it worth the shot. Just FYI, the nurse there taught me perinium massage and it's made cervical exams much easier for me. Maybe you did it already with your first pregnancy, but doesn't hurt to share.

Thanks again for all your advice, and wish you a very h&h pg.

 

[friendlygirl]

Hi all,

This was so helpful for me to read, my husband and I will try to go down this route with my doctor next month, since we got tested and we are both healthy and young, I am really hopping that one time its enough, do you think that is realistic?

also I dont not how to deal with my husband saying to me from time to time I wish we did not have to do this and we could just have sex and it would happen, how did you girls deal with this, or where your husbands like totaly ok? We have been married for 5 years and where very helpful to get over this quickly but its just so hard, I have made some progress but nothing to big, I cant even use tampons, I am able to put in a small candle which was a major acomplishment for me.. I which I was able to achieve more.

Your input would be very valuable, vaginismus is very lonely, when you dont know anybody that can relate to you