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Syringe vs Instead soft cup, and preseed questions

angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
edited November -1 in Trying to Conceive
Just wondering which method, (syringe, syringe with catheter, or instead soft cup), has been successful?

When I did 1st ICI yesterday, I was on bed with pillow under hips. I first drew up a tiny bit of preseed into syringe, then the vial of sperm, then inserted it as close to my cervix (guided by my finger) and hopefully I let it out slowly where it was supposed to go ;) then left syringe in for about a minute, then took it out, then o'd, then put in instead soft cup.
Then I stayed in bed with raised hips on pillow for about an hour or so, then got up to go about my day since my son was getting home from school shortly thereafter.
I left soft cup in for 4 hours, and removed it (although it was full of "stuff" when I removed it).

So now I'm thinking about simplifying things by first inserting preseed 30 min before, then using syringe only to draw up vial of sperm and put it directly into the instead soft cup, then insert the soft cup into me.
Then have an O and stay in bed for about an hour, unless I wait until later right before bed then I'll just go to sleep, and leave it in for 6-8 hours before removing soft cup.

Just seems simpler... I was worried that by doing the syringe in me first, and then putting in soft cup, Iu may have been keeping out some sperm that wasn't in the "cervix zone" lol ;)

Any suggestiongs, opinions?... Also should I do the preseed as I planned too?

Thanks...
age 45,Minnesota,TTC frozen sperm donor,#1 at home 3 ICIs, BFN.
#2 fertility specialist, Clomid&trigger, IUI BFN, good response, timing off.
#3plan b2bIUIs Clomid&trigger-cycle cancelled poor Clomid response.
#4 used Gonal F &trigger, b2b IUIs, BFN.
Was skipping July cycle due to cysts, was going to TTC later in August, but due to irregular cycles and age issues, decided to stop TTC :(
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Comments

  • Molly88Molly88 Posts: 14
    edited November -1
    I usually do the pre-seed about 10 minutes before, then insert swimmers as high as I can get them. I immediately insert soft cup, then O. I keep my hips propped from the time I insert swimmers until 30 minutes after O. I have always left my soft cups in overnight, just in case. I hope this is somewhat helpful ;)
    CourtneyMolly-47.jpg
    10/2011-9/2012, All BFN
    10/2012- TWW....
  • graceinflgraceinfl Posts: 1,743
    edited November -1
    I have done it several different ways. My preference now is to draw up some PreSeed, then the sperm, and then a little more PreSeed. Squirt into Instead Cup and insert. I leave it in for 12 hours. It took me a few times to get it where I didn't spill the goods. Will let you know if it was successful in a few days, which I doubt.

    I noticed you are about 3 years older than me, have you had a fertility check up yet?
  • angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
    edited November -1
    Molly88 wrote:
    I usually do the pre-seed about 10 minutes before, then insert swimmers as high as I can get them. I immediately insert soft cup, then O. I keep my hips propped from the time I insert swimmers until 30 minutes after O. I have always left my soft cups in overnight, just in case. I hope this is somewhat helpful ;)

    That is similar to what I did yesterday with my 1st ici, except I didn't use any preseed inside me, only a tiny bit in the syringe before drawing up the sperm. Did you have leakage, and did you have any "stuff" left in the cup when you removed it?
    age 45,Minnesota,TTC frozen sperm donor,#1 at home 3 ICIs, BFN.
    #2 fertility specialist, Clomid&trigger, IUI BFN, good response, timing off.
    #3plan b2bIUIs Clomid&trigger-cycle cancelled poor Clomid response.
    #4 used Gonal F &trigger, b2b IUIs, BFN.
    Was skipping July cycle due to cysts, was going to TTC later in August, but due to irregular cycles and age issues, decided to stop TTC :(
  • angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
    edited November -1
    graceinfl wrote:
    I have done it several different ways. My preference now is to draw up some PreSeed, then the sperm, and then a little more PreSeed. Squirt into Instead Cup and insert. I leave it in for 12 hours. It took me a few times to get it where I didn't spill the goods. Will let you know if it was successful in a few days, which I doubt.

    I noticed you are about 3 years older than me, have you had a fertility check up yet?

    I think that is how I plan on doing my next ICI- it just seems easier than doing using the syringe and aiming for my cervix and wondering if I got it in the right direction and not off to the side. When you removed the cup was there anything left in it? When I removed mine there was "stuff" left in it, and I don't know if that is what should be there or is it supposed to be empty?

    I didn't have a fertility check up other than my fsh level and lh level done by blood tests and both were normal so my ovarian reserve is ok as far as I know. Before I had the blood tests I did the over the counter fsh test to test fertility and it was normal as well- telling to continue to try to conceive : :D I also had pelvic pain on my right side so I had an ultrasound done and the results showed that my left ovary and tubes, endometrial lining, and uterus were all normal, other than my uterus being anteverted (fairly common and is better than it being retroverted). My right ovary couldn't be seen due to bowel gas lol :rolleyes:

    Have you had any fertility tests? Why do you doubt that you may end up with a BFP this time? Have you been trying long?

    I'm TTC without any type of fertility treatments or medications, but if nothing works after a few cycles, I will need to rethink this before I run out of money and then won't be able to do anything at all.

    If I could afford more testing, then I would get it done, but it is too expensive for me and my insurance won't cover anything.
    age 45,Minnesota,TTC frozen sperm donor,#1 at home 3 ICIs, BFN.
    #2 fertility specialist, Clomid&trigger, IUI BFN, good response, timing off.
    #3plan b2bIUIs Clomid&trigger-cycle cancelled poor Clomid response.
    #4 used Gonal F &trigger, b2b IUIs, BFN.
    Was skipping July cycle due to cysts, was going to TTC later in August, but due to irregular cycles and age issues, decided to stop TTC :(
  • single31single31 Posts: 95
    edited November -1
    I've heard alot of good things about instead cups, but I never could get them to work for me, they would just kindda sit there folded up like a taco. Lol
  • angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
    edited November -1
    single31 wrote:
    I've heard alot of good things about instead cups, but I never could get them to work for me, they would just kindda sit there folded up like a taco. Lol

    omg that is too funny... someone else wrote that it flew out of them like a flying saucer and that cracked me up too :lol:
    I didn't have any problem putting it in or taking it out but I didn't insert it when it was full of swimmers either. I'm hoping that when I do none will spill out as I insert it!
    age 45,Minnesota,TTC frozen sperm donor,#1 at home 3 ICIs, BFN.
    #2 fertility specialist, Clomid&trigger, IUI BFN, good response, timing off.
    #3plan b2bIUIs Clomid&trigger-cycle cancelled poor Clomid response.
    #4 used Gonal F &trigger, b2b IUIs, BFN.
    Was skipping July cycle due to cysts, was going to TTC later in August, but due to irregular cycles and age issues, decided to stop TTC :(
  • TheMysticalOneTheMysticalOne Posts: 850 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I did pretty much what you did and got GREAT results!! :D

    I sucked up some preseed with the syringe and then sucked up swimmers and then some more preseed. I did my insemination just a regular ICI and waited around for about 15 minutes propped up before I put in the instead cup with MORE preseed. I was swimming in preseed as I waited around about an hour and a half each time. I kept the cup in overnight. I think you can leave it in for like 12 hours or something. I had stuff in mine when I took it out too, but I think the good swimmers must have got to where they needed to be, so I wouldn't be too worried about that.

    I think you've got a good plan, so good luck!! Babydust!!
  • angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
    edited November -1
    TheMysticalOne wrote:
    I did pretty much what you did and got GREAT results!! :D

    I sucked up some preseed with the syringe and then sucked up swimmers and then some more preseed. I did my insemination just a regular ICI and waited around for about 15 minutes propped up before I put in the instead cup with MORE preseed. I was swimming in preseed as I waited around about an hour and a half each time. I kept the cup in overnight. I think you can leave it in for like 12 hours or something. I had stuff in mine when I took it out too, but I think the good swimmers must have got to where they needed to be, so I wouldn't be too worried about that.

    I think you've got a good plan, so good luck!! Babydust!!

    Thank you, and Congrats on your BFP! :D
    age 45,Minnesota,TTC frozen sperm donor,#1 at home 3 ICIs, BFN.
    #2 fertility specialist, Clomid&trigger, IUI BFN, good response, timing off.
    #3plan b2bIUIs Clomid&trigger-cycle cancelled poor Clomid response.
    #4 used Gonal F &trigger, b2b IUIs, BFN.
    Was skipping July cycle due to cysts, was going to TTC later in August, but due to irregular cycles and age issues, decided to stop TTC :(
  • graceinflgraceinfl Posts: 1,743
    edited November -1
    I am glad that your levels checked out okay. That is a positive! I usually have a tad bit of stuff left in in but I do need to emphasize that I use a KD. When I used frozen, I didn't insert the cup so I can't speak to that.

    Why do I doubt? I feel crampy and crabby, which is a sure sign that AF is on the way. I was ready to snap a student's head off today because he was irritating me with his stupidity and laziness. I expect better from adults in college. That's my big clue AF is near.
  • angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
    edited March 2012
    graceinfl wrote:
    I am glad that your levels checked out okay. That is a positive! I usually have a tad bit of stuff left in in but I do need to emphasize that I use a KD. When I used frozen, I didn't insert the cup so I can't speak to that.

    Why do I doubt? I feel crampy and crabby, which is a sure sign that AF is on the way. I was ready to snap a student's head off today because he was irritating me with his stupidity and laziness. I expect better from adults in college. That's my big clue AF is near.

    still didnt get a smiley yet :( But ignoring the lack of smiley and going to do ICI before I go to sleep tonight and then hopefully smiley will show up by morning and then will do last vial tomorrow night. Then keep fingers crossed that somehow between the 3 vials I caught the egg!

    Using fresh is so much better since the sperm lives so much longer- if I was using fresh, my chances would be increased so much! If I knew how to find a donor for fresh donation that would be better, but I am one of the people liking the anonymous donors, I don't want any type of relationship with a donor (many personal reasons for this).

    And sorry you are crabby and crampy... but as long as AF didn't show up yet, then there is still a chance, however you know your body better than anyone and you know how you feel before AF so all I can say is :(
    age 45,Minnesota,TTC frozen sperm donor,#1 at home 3 ICIs, BFN.
    #2 fertility specialist, Clomid&trigger, IUI BFN, good response, timing off.
    #3plan b2bIUIs Clomid&trigger-cycle cancelled poor Clomid response.
    #4 used Gonal F &trigger, b2b IUIs, BFN.
    Was skipping July cycle due to cysts, was going to TTC later in August, but due to irregular cycles and age issues, decided to stop TTC :(
  • angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
    edited November -1
    Ok, didnt do ici lady night, waited until today & happy to say I finally got smiley. I waited 5 hrs then did ici, by syringe into me as close to cervix as I could, then put in soft cup then had o. Now still I'm in bed with hips propped, figured i'd stay here a few hours & cheer on my swimmers lol :)
    age 45,Minnesota,TTC frozen sperm donor,#1 at home 3 ICIs, BFN.
    #2 fertility specialist, Clomid&trigger, IUI BFN, good response, timing off.
    #3plan b2bIUIs Clomid&trigger-cycle cancelled poor Clomid response.
    #4 used Gonal F &trigger, b2b IUIs, BFN.
    Was skipping July cycle due to cysts, was going to TTC later in August, but due to irregular cycles and age issues, decided to stop TTC :(
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