Questions on doing this at home

misskris

I am new to this and I want to do atleast ONE insemination at home... I know this requires the ICI vials and... I did see an ad for an Insemination Kit, that contains OPK's, HPTs, syringe, cervical cap, etc and I think this requires a darn prescription. I dont think this kit is necessary is it? Can someone tell me how you do this with so little amount of semen? I hear the vials are small... and I would think you have to use them within a certain amt of time since they cant be stored in your freezer. Do you mix it with saline solution or what? How do you thaw and for how long?
I have found some at home insemination instructions but the sperm theyre referring to doesn't seem to be from a sperm bank. I know it is easier to just have the guy there and if he ejaculates in a cup, thats more to work with but obviously I cant find anyone willing to donate. Can someone tell me exactly what you used for the entire procedure, how many attempts, and if you used a vial from a sperm bank? Thank you!

colealeigh

Lexnani


Joined: 10/01/10
Posts: 2

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At home insemination
10/01/10 3:18 PM

My partner and I want to try the at home insemination process. Has anyone ever done this and can you offer us tips.

We really appreciate it!!!
rjanssen


Joined: 08/31/08
Posts: 1

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RE: At home insemination
10/01/10 5:04 PM

Hi,
I have tried home insemination before. I'm not sure what you need to know but I can tell you that I am using an ovulation kit to try to figure the best time to conceive. I have also used an ovulation calculator (available online).
jgreer


Joined: 12/02/08
Posts: 11

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RE: At home insemination
10/10/10 1:21 PM

First my disclaimer. I am not a doctor. I can only impart information about how I did it (and yes, I was successful).

You'll need a small needless syringe (if I recall I used .5 cc syringe) and a catheter (tube) that fits on the end. Mine was supplied by a nurse at my doctor's office, but I've been told that you can purchase these items at medical supply places. I think there are also "kits" available online.

You have to thaw the swimmers in the vial (see CCB's site for instructions). We used the water bath method.

We put the catheter on the end of the syringe before you suck up the swimmers. We slowly pulled the plunger out until all of the swimmers were in the vial.

DO NOT PUSH THE CATHETER PAST THE CERVIX--YOU CAN GET A VERY BAD INFECTION!

We inserted the catheter until we hit the cervix, then pulled it back a bit. This gave the swimmers room to be injected very close to the cervix, but not so close that they "bounced" off the cervix.

We depressed the plunger very slowly. Then, we removed the catheter from the end of the syringe and pulled the plunger out about a half inch (to get air into the syringe), hooked the catheter back up and depressed the plunger again to get the last bit of swimmers out.

We removed the catheter and syringe, elevated the hips, and it was done.

Note that there are varying opinions on whether or not arousal and climax help the swimmers get to where they need to be.

TMI alert. We actually did employ those methods and we were successful on our first try. But, it's a personal decision and there are no studies that I know of that definitively indicate that it helps either way. We just figured that simulating the natural method of conceiving as closely as possible would be the best choice.

Good luck.
JRGodwin


Joined: 09/21/10
Posts: 18

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RE: At home insemination
10/10/10 6:33 PM

My friend did at home insemination. She posted about it on her blog...here is the link:

http://southernsideup.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/havin-a-baby-advice/

jpsteadmen

We are currently pregnant (39 weeks) and tried once at home (ICI) and once at the doctor (IUI). Our home insemination was easy -- just the timing was off. We bought an ovulation kit from the drugstore (no prescription) to determine when to order the sperm. The sperm arrives on dry ice and you have about two days to use it once it arrives. Yes, it is an alarmingly small amount -- but it only takes one! The best thing to use (in my opinion) is a .5 syringe. I got it free from the pharmacy. Go to the pharmacy counter (I went to Target) and tell them you'd like a .5 syringe to measure medicine for a baby. It is very thin and just the right size to use. You suction the ICI sample from the vial into the syringe. Relax and enjoy each other and have your partner insert the syringe. If you have a lot of eggwhite-like mucus, you will know you are ovulating. It is recommended that you lie down with your hips elevated a bit for a while. I am not a doctor, but this worked well for us. Good luck!

misskris

Ok, thanks for the advice. It looks like I may have an actual male donor so we can do AI at home.. I will continue screening him and asking questions. I am familiar with OPK's, and I do know when I am ovulating so I will be sure to time this right. I may also do one IUI at the Drs, that way I can get meds and a trigger shot, increasing the chances at success.

bbypanda

colealeigh - that was extremely helpful and very inspiring knowing that you were successful! You gave me a little more confidence. Thank you for sharing!!! :)

lindsey0351

I have been doing all of my inseminations at home. The specimen is shipped in a tank that is good for 7 days from shipping. I just follow the thawing instructions provided. I bought a medicine dropper from kroger for about $1 and use it. Just put the specimen as close to the cervix as possible without going through it. Hips elevated for 15-20 minutes. Arousal/orgasm is supposed to help. If you want to talk about this more email me at Lindsey0351@aol.com

Hope this helps
Lindsey

saradastylist

we too tried for our first time at home...due to start my period tomorrow and doing the tww rollercoaster. man, never knew how emotional this could get even reading the blogs and knowing that other women had a hard time...there is NO preparing for that. hoping for the beginners luck that some seem to have encountered but not as hopefull as I was a week ago...we used a 3.0ml syringe and a cathader, 18 hrs after I got my lh surge we inseminated hips elevated and laid there way longer than reccomended lol. also had two orgasms and used a small amount of saline after to clean whatever was left in the tube.... timing is everything so I hope we nailed that one. best of luck to all of you!!!