Here we go with cycle 2! This one was harder for me (Dr. Plant) emotionally. Mr. Mom struggled to help me keep my spirits up (thanks Mr. Mom).
We've given up on the LH testing strips. Because why pee on a stick all the time if nothing comes of it?! My cervix continues to be a fairly clear sign of ovulation, which is good. Because of work and life logistics, Mr. Mom came home from her nurse job at 12:30 am, woke me up, and we did the deed on CD16. Unfortunately, she could only insert the catheter barely an inch, so it was more like an ICI. My temperature went up on CD17, indicating we may have had fairly good timing? Time will tell.
Last month felt intense with lots of symptom spotting and pregnancy tests. This month I'm going to attempt to be more zen about things, and just wait for Aunt Flow on her normal day.
RESULTS:
Update: BFN
Friday, May 9, 2014
TTC #1 - Cycle 1
This was our first cycle, and a month earlier than we'd originally planned, so the preparation was a little hectic. We had to make sure we had all the necessary items for an at-home IUI (see Nuts and Bolts for more detail on the How), but we were still able to get all the items to the house in time, and gave it our best shot!
Most TTC'ers are using LH testing strips, but I've had very little luck so far with these. On this cycle, I had a fairly dark result (although still not darker than the control line) on CD14, around 10am. My cervix was also open, so we did our first IUI at 9pm CD14, then 12pm CD15. Because my cervix was very open, Mr. Mom was able to insert the catheter all the way into my uterus, up to the 2" mark. However, my cervix was not as open for the second IUI, so Mr. Mom could only insert the catheter ~ 1".
I orgasmed after each IUI (which is sort of a feat in itself, when you're stressing about timing and IUI logistics!).
RESULTS:
BFN. This month wasn't the one. I experienced cramping off and on during the TWW, and had a slightly longer luteal phase than normal, but nothing stuck this time.
Most TTC'ers are using LH testing strips, but I've had very little luck so far with these. On this cycle, I had a fairly dark result (although still not darker than the control line) on CD14, around 10am. My cervix was also open, so we did our first IUI at 9pm CD14, then 12pm CD15. Because my cervix was very open, Mr. Mom was able to insert the catheter all the way into my uterus, up to the 2" mark. However, my cervix was not as open for the second IUI, so Mr. Mom could only insert the catheter ~ 1".
I orgasmed after each IUI (which is sort of a feat in itself, when you're stressing about timing and IUI logistics!).
RESULTS:
BFN. This month wasn't the one. I experienced cramping off and on during the TWW, and had a slightly longer luteal phase than normal, but nothing stuck this time.
Nuts and Bolts - IUI: PART 2
** PLEASE, IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH STERILE TECHNIQUE, DO NOT ATTEMPT IUI AT HOME **
This is not professional medical advice!! Rather, it is a tutorial intended as a refresher or introduction for medically trained professionals moonlighting plunger-pushers for their partners, or possibly plunger-pushers who have been previously trained by their RE or other physician. An infection in your uterus is NO JOKE! Be careful ladies and gentlebois.
This continues from Nuts and Bolts - IUI: PART 1
Thaw the goods
We remove a vial, and set it on a coaster (still using gloves!! But I didn't have to say that again, right?). Set your timer for 20 minutes, and busy yourself with preparing your sterile items. Open your sterile drape/field, and place your items on it. Put on the sterile gloves, and then install the catheter on the syringe tip.
While you do this, and after the timer has gone off, give the vial to your partner to hold in her hand for 5-10 minutes. This will bring the specimen to body temperature (but won't be too hot, which you risk in hot water thawing baths).
Here you can see a package of sterile gloves, a catheter already installed on a syringe, and a speculum. It may not be clear in the photo, but we also marked 2" on the catheter, which I'll explain next. Although this is not necessary, it can be helpful.
Get your partner in place
I've heard a few suggestions around the interwebs, but what's worked best for us is for me (receiver) to place one foot on my nightstand, the other on the bed, and then scoot my butt cheeks up to the edge of the bed. Do whatever you need to do to allow convenient access.
Insert the speculum. You may feel comfortable doing this yourself, or want your partner to do it. You may also want to use lube (which in in the case of IUI is fine, but only use PreSeed lube if it's an ICI you're after). You can practice this before the big event - you don't want to be messing with specula you can't get right while your swimmers are thawing.
Swimmers - take your mark...
Once your partner is in place, and the speculum is in place, you're ready for the actual IUI procedure. First, put on your head lamp (is this romantic, or what?). Obtain the vial, turn it over a few times, and screw off the top. Insert the catheter into the vial, and start pulling the syringe plunger to pull the sperm into the catheter. Watch the catheter to make sure you don't introduce any air bubbles. Your partner will not thank you when her uterus freaks out when it's full of air. Now carefully (without touching the speculum or vaginal walls), try to insert the catheter into your partners cervix, ideally up to the 2" mark, indicating you've made it into the uterus. Push the plunger very slowly (like 2 minutes total) until you've expelled all the contents. Pull out the catheter.
Edit: Having gone through this process with an RE, I don't think the pluger needs to be depressed so slowly. They do it in 2 seconds flat.
You did it!
Now you're done! Make sure you throw away all the disposable tools (catheter, syringe, gloves, sterile field), because they are no longer sterile. Remove the speculum, and get comfortable. You might consider staying horizontal for 15 minutes up to an hour. It's not really necessary since you're doing an IUI, but can't hurt? Other romantic activities are also highly encouraged, because the muscle spasms in the uterus during orgasm can actually help those swimmers along.
This is not professional medical advice!! Rather, it is a tutorial intended as a refresher or introduction for medically trained professionals moonlighting plunger-pushers for their partners, or possibly plunger-pushers who have been previously trained by their RE or other physician. An infection in your uterus is NO JOKE! Be careful ladies and gentlebois.
This continues from Nuts and Bolts - IUI: PART 1
Thaw the goods
We remove a vial, and set it on a coaster (still using gloves!! But I didn't have to say that again, right?). Set your timer for 20 minutes, and busy yourself with preparing your sterile items. Open your sterile drape/field, and place your items on it. Put on the sterile gloves, and then install the catheter on the syringe tip.
While you do this, and after the timer has gone off, give the vial to your partner to hold in her hand for 5-10 minutes. This will bring the specimen to body temperature (but won't be too hot, which you risk in hot water thawing baths).
Here you can see a package of sterile gloves, a catheter already installed on a syringe, and a speculum. It may not be clear in the photo, but we also marked 2" on the catheter, which I'll explain next. Although this is not necessary, it can be helpful.
Get your partner in place
I've heard a few suggestions around the interwebs, but what's worked best for us is for me (receiver) to place one foot on my nightstand, the other on the bed, and then scoot my butt cheeks up to the edge of the bed. Do whatever you need to do to allow convenient access.
Insert the speculum. You may feel comfortable doing this yourself, or want your partner to do it. You may also want to use lube (which in in the case of IUI is fine, but only use PreSeed lube if it's an ICI you're after). You can practice this before the big event - you don't want to be messing with specula you can't get right while your swimmers are thawing.
Swimmers - take your mark...
Once your partner is in place, and the speculum is in place, you're ready for the actual IUI procedure. First, put on your head lamp (is this romantic, or what?). Obtain the vial, turn it over a few times, and screw off the top. Insert the catheter into the vial, and start pulling the syringe plunger to pull the sperm into the catheter. Watch the catheter to make sure you don't introduce any air bubbles. Your partner will not thank you when her uterus freaks out when it's full of air. Now carefully (without touching the speculum or vaginal walls), try to insert the catheter into your partners cervix, ideally up to the 2" mark, indicating you've made it into the uterus. Push the plunger very slowly (like 2 minutes total) until you've expelled all the contents. Pull out the catheter.
Edit: Having gone through this process with an RE, I don't think the pluger needs to be depressed so slowly. They do it in 2 seconds flat.
You did it!
Now you're done! Make sure you throw away all the disposable tools (catheter, syringe, gloves, sterile field), because they are no longer sterile. Remove the speculum, and get comfortable. You might consider staying horizontal for 15 minutes up to an hour. It's not really necessary since you're doing an IUI, but can't hurt? Other romantic activities are also highly encouraged, because the muscle spasms in the uterus during orgasm can actually help those swimmers along.
Nuts and Bolts - IUI: PART 1
** PLEASE, IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH STERILE TECHNIQUE, DO NOT ATTEMPT IUI AT HOME **
This is not professional medical advice!! Rather, it is a tutorial intended as a refresher or introduction for medically trained professionals moonlighting plunger-pushers for their partners, or possibly plunger-pushers who have been previously trained by their RE or other physician. An infection in your uterus is NO JOKE! Be careful ladies and gentlebois.
Having said all that, I hope this post will take some of the mystery out of at-home inseminations (particularly IUI).
Have these items handy:
Swim team
The swim team arrives after a quick trip with FedEx (2-day or overnight). Thanks FedEx people!
Inside the shipping box is the dry-ice tank.
And then we open the lid and we see the dry ice steaming (sublimating actually). Just lift the lid straight up (or follow directions, which should be provided).
Feels like science.
Inside, there is a metal 'cane' holding a vial of the sperm way down in the tank. The 'cane' is the metal rod on the left, which has a cylinder attached. In the cylinder is a little metal rack holding your vial(s).
All items in the tank are COLD. Like the arctic in winter. If your skin touches anything it'll just burn. Worse than licking metal in a Wisconsin December. Make sure you're wearing your gloves when handling items that are fresh from the cold tank. Ok? Ok.
Check out PART 2 for the fun stuff!
This is not professional medical advice!! Rather, it is a tutorial intended as a refresher or introduction for medically trained professionals moonlighting plunger-pushers for their partners, or possibly plunger-pushers who have been previously trained by their RE or other physician. An infection in your uterus is NO JOKE! Be careful ladies and gentlebois.
Having said all that, I hope this post will take some of the mystery out of at-home inseminations (particularly IUI).
Have these items handy:
- sterile 'field' (Mr. Mom's nurse word) = sterile drapes
- sterile non-latex gloves
- sterile syringes, 1cc (=1ml) slip tip or leur-lock tip work here
- sterile catheters (or "Tom Cat" catheters, supplied by Insemination Supplies)
- lots of specula (soo much fun.)
- garden or leather gloves
You can find all of these items on Amazon, except the catheters - those we could only find at the link I supplied above.
Swim team
The swim team arrives after a quick trip with FedEx (2-day or overnight). Thanks FedEx people!
Inside the shipping box is the dry-ice tank.
And then we open the lid and we see the dry ice steaming (sublimating actually). Just lift the lid straight up (or follow directions, which should be provided).
Feels like science.
Inside, there is a metal 'cane' holding a vial of the sperm way down in the tank. The 'cane' is the metal rod on the left, which has a cylinder attached. In the cylinder is a little metal rack holding your vial(s).
All items in the tank are COLD. Like the arctic in winter. If your skin touches anything it'll just burn. Worse than licking metal in a Wisconsin December. Make sure you're wearing your gloves when handling items that are fresh from the cold tank. Ok? Ok.
Check out PART 2 for the fun stuff!
Saturday, May 3, 2014
So... Do you use a turkey baster?
This is a popular question. And I understand the curiosity here. It's a logistics thing. But do people realize what they're asking? What sort of intimate details they're implying? Maybe they do. Or maybe not.
The short answer is yes - and no.
To answer the question, "Do you use something to assist with sperm placement?": Yes. Is it an item reserved for Thanksgiving dinner?: No.
There is only one tool appropriate for an IUI (intra-uterine insemination), and it's a 1 ml syringe, with a thin catheter attached to the slip tip. All items must be sterile for use with this procedure, as a uterus is not designed to fight infection.
For an ICI (intra-cervical insemination), a syringe can also be helpful for positioning sperm immediately against the cervix. Frequently, a larger size syringe is needed for ICI, because the sample has more volume (unwashed, containing both semen fluid and sperm). Another option is to use a device called a soft cup, which is designed for women to use during their period, but works well to keep sperm where they need to be (near the cervix). These items do not need to be sterile because the vagina and cervix are designed to fight infection. But, you know, don't swipe your soft cup all over the shopping cart handles at your local Target because, gross. You don't need to test those defenses.
Are you asking yourself, "Self, what's a cervix?"? Check out this educationally gruesome site: The Beautiful Cervix Project. It's a good anatomy lesson.
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