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Didn't see smiley but had other signs so did ICI at home anyway

angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
edited November -1 in Trying to Conceive
According to ovulation chart I am due to ovulate tomorrow. I've been POAS using clearblue digital opk since cd8, but no smiley. (My cycle is 25 days, and I'n 44yrs old).
I have been doing saliva test, and for the past 3 days I have strong ferning, plus today more stretchy cm, cervix felt open.

I didn't want to miss my ovulation since I had the other signs so I decided to do 1st ICI this afternoon. It was my first time doing an at home ICI, using frozen sperm, and I am by myself. I actually thought it was going to be a little easier. I just used the syringe, inserted it, had O, but it seems that some leaked out, then put in soft cup for 4 hours so no more would leak out. When I took out soft cup it was full of "stuff" but I'm guessing that is normal??

Now I'm hoping that I did this right and will do the other 2 vials after I get a smiley. I'm thinking that my smiley is late because of being stressed over the process of this all and worrying about the timing, or because I have a hard time holding in my pee for 4 hrs and I've been testing pretty much every 4 hrs- I may have to go out and buy another $40 clearblue digital opk since I only have 5 tests left!

Any suggestions so that next ICI goes smoother?
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 :(

Comments

  • old mamaold mama Posts: 4,682
    edited November -1
    Sounds good. Hope you have great news really soon.
  • 1baby1day1baby1day Posts: 520
    edited November -1
    Get that instead cup in as soon as possible, everybody has some leakage but the instead cup stops it in it's tracks!
    pic1a-1.jpg
    My baby, Stella ~ My nephew Alex and I (Denise) at Thanksgiving 2010
    10 TTC's over 15 months - all BFN
  • angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
    edited November -1
    old mama wrote:
    Sounds good. Hope you have great news really soon.

    thank you :)
    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 March 2012
    1baby1day wrote:
    Get that instead cup in as soon as possible, everybody has some leakage but the instead cup stops it in it's tracks!


    yep, i put it in right after i O'd... should I have put soft cup in right after taking out syringe and then O'd?... and also was there lots of "stuff" left in cup when you took it out?
    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 :(
  • NVLNVL Posts: 162
    edited November -1
    Best of luck you! I did the exact same thing tonight! All my signs were there just no smiley! We'll see...here's to an easy tww!
  • KatydidKatydid Posts: 515 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you are putting the cup in right away why not just put the sperm in the cup to start with and then insert it? I know a lot of people have trouble, but I got pretty good at it by practicing with water. I am 34, but I always had trouble with OPKs. When I did get a smiley it was always gone within 4-6 hours...I never got two in a cycle. For this BFP cycle I went off signs too. No smiley. Best of luck to you.
  • 1baby1day1baby1day Posts: 520
    edited November -1
    Yes, there was stuff in the cup when I took it out. But my belief is that the sperm went where it was supposed to go, and the stuff in the cup was just cm.
    pic1a-1.jpg
    My baby, Stella ~ My nephew Alex and I (Denise) at Thanksgiving 2010
    10 TTC's over 15 months - all BFN
  • NVLNVL Posts: 162
    edited November -1
    1baby did you iui this time?
  • angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
    edited November -1
    Katydid wrote:
    If you are putting the cup in right away why not just put the sperm in the cup to start with and then insert it? I know a lot of people have trouble, but I got pretty good at it by practicing with water. I am 34, but I always had trouble with OPKs. When I did get a smiley it was always gone within 4-6 hours...I never got two in a cycle. For this BFP cycle I went off signs too. No smiley. Best of luck to you.

    Congrats on your BFP! So you got the BFP by only putting the sperm in the soft cup? Were you using frozen sperm donor? Did you add any preseed to the cup also, or in the syringe before you put emptied the syringe into the soft cup?
    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
    1baby1day wrote:
    Yes, there was stuff in the cup when I took it out. But my belief is that the sperm went where it was supposed to go, and the stuff in the cup was just cm.

    Good, that is what I was hoping. I left the soft cup in for 4 hours and by then the sperm should have all swimmed up my cervix and headed to the right place. I would have left the cup in longer, but the directions said to leave it it for no longer than 4 hours and I didn't want it to be bad for my cervix being covered for too long. I just got concerned seeing what was left in the cup after removing it- I never used one before so I didn't know what to expect!
    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
    NVL wrote:
    Best of luck you! I did the exact same thing tonight! All my signs were there just no smiley! We'll see...here's to an easy tww!


    *sprinkling baby dust to everyone* good luck too!
    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 :(
  • 1baby1day1baby1day Posts: 520
    edited November -1
    NVL wrote:
    1baby did you iui this time?

    Yes, I did the IUI this time. One at 10 hrs past + and one at 26 hrs past +. I did the IUI both times, and I think the second time was better because the os was wide open just waiting for that sperm!
    pic1a-1.jpg
    My baby, Stella ~ My nephew Alex and I (Denise) at Thanksgiving 2010
    10 TTC's over 15 months - all BFN
  • NVLNVL Posts: 162
    edited November -1
    Yay! 1baby Im rooting for you! Hope its an easy tww!
  • 1baby1day1baby1day Posts: 520
    edited November -1
    Thanks! This will be my last time trying for quite some time, so I really hope it works. Good luck to you as well!
    pic1a-1.jpg
    My baby, Stella ~ My nephew Alex and I (Denise) at Thanksgiving 2010
    10 TTC's over 15 months - all BFN
  • Jccwill3Jccwill3 Posts: 687
    edited March 2012
    angels11rw wrote:
    1baby1day wrote:
    Get that instead cup in as soon as possible, everybody has some leakage but the instead cup stops it in it's tracks!


    yep, i put it in right after i O'd... should I have put soft cup in right after taking out syringe and then O'd?... and also was there lots of "stuff" left in cup when you took it out?

    I agree. Instead cup then O. Or even if you have to leave the syringe in while Oing and the use cup.

    Also, are you using preseed? Cause if so...that could have very well have been the extra 'junk'... Or... If youre not... Definately comes highly recommended on this forum.

    Go nuts! (Oh, uh....no pun indended. Lol.)
  • angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
    edited November -1
    Jccwill3 wrote:
    angels11rw wrote:
    1baby1day wrote:
    Get that instead cup in as soon as possible, everybody has some leakage but the instead cup stops it in it's tracks!


    yep, i put it in right after i O'd... should I have put soft cup in right after taking out syringe and then O'd?... and also was there lots of "stuff" left in cup when you took it out?

    I agree. Instead cup then O. Or even if you have to leave the syringe in while Oing and the use cup.

    Also, are you using preseed? Cause if so...that could have very well have been the extra 'junk'... Or... If youre not... Definately comes highly recommended on this forum.

    Go nuts! (Oh, uh....no pun indended. Lol.)

    Ok, so for the next one i will put i the soft cup in first then O... and yes I did use a tiny bit of preseed- i drew a tiny bit in the syringe before i drew up the sperm from the vial, then inserted syringe by cervix and let it out slowly. I figured the little bit that remained in the syringe would mostly be the preseed.

    *keeping my fingers crossed for all of us who are tww, hoping for bfp*
    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 :(
  • ChrysanthemumChrysanthemum Posts: 1,205 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I wanted to add CBDs are WAY cheaper on amazon

    Good luck!
  • angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
    edited November -1
    I wanted to add CBDs are WAY cheaper on amazon

    Good luck!

    Thank you, Yes, I saw that too- that will be where I order more, plus I'll be ordering the cheapies too so that i can better track my surge... I think I missed it this cycle somehow...
    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 :(
  • 1baby1day1baby1day Posts: 520
    edited November -1
    Yeah, I ordered smileys online and they sent me weight loss pills!
    pic1a-1.jpg
    My baby, Stella ~ My nephew Alex and I (Denise) at Thanksgiving 2010
    10 TTC's over 15 months - all BFN
  • angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
    edited November -1
    1baby1day wrote:
    Yeah, I ordered smileys online and they sent me weight loss pills!

    lol, funny, guess it's like "here's for conception, and then here's for after the pregnancy!"
    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 :(
  • 1baby1day1baby1day Posts: 520
    edited November -1
    It was through Amazon, the shipper was AmericaRx. Just be forewarned!
    pic1a-1.jpg
    My baby, Stella ~ My nephew Alex and I (Denise) at Thanksgiving 2010
    10 TTC's over 15 months - all BFN
  • KatydidKatydid Posts: 515 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    angels11rw wrote:

    Congrats on your BFP! So you got the BFP by only putting the sperm in the soft cup? Were you using frozen sperm donor? Did you add any preseed to the cup also, or in the syringe before you put emptied the syringe into the soft cup?

    No, my BFP came with a failed attempt of self IUI with 2 vials from NW. When I realized it wasn't going to happen I just gave up and put both vials next to the cervix using the catheter...no preseed or cup. I had read that IUIs are more successful with at least 20million so I had already thawed and loaded both vials. I started using the cup prior to that because of leaking and time constraints.
  • angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
    edited November -1
    Katydid wrote:
    angels11rw wrote:

    Congrats on your BFP! So you got the BFP by only putting the sperm in the soft cup? Were you using frozen sperm donor? Did you add any preseed to the cup also, or in the syringe before you put emptied the syringe into the soft cup?

    No, my BFP came with a failed attempt of self IUI with 2 vials from NW. When I realized it wasn't going to happen I just gave up and put both vials next to the cervix using the catheter...no preseed or cup. I had read that IUIs are more successful with at least 20million so I had already thawed and loaded both vials. I started using the cup prior to that because of leaking and time constraints.

    By doing the syringe/catherter way, did you have leakage too?
    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 :(
  • KatydidKatydid Posts: 515 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yep
  • tellytelly Posts: 625
    edited November -1
    Sounds good. Goodluck and hope you get that vbfp! its highly possible to do ai before getting a smiley and still getting a bfp.
    2014-04-26%2000.27.50.jpg



    eNortjKzUjIyNDI3tFSyBlwwFXgC0w,,63.png
  • angels11rwangels11rw Posts: 217
    edited November -1
    telly wrote:
    Sounds good. Goodluck and hope you get that vbfp! its highly possible to do ai before getting a smiley and still getting a bfp.

    thanks Telly! That's what I'm hoping!
    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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