ICI - At Home

annemaccarroll

My wife and I just purchased several ICI samples from one donor - we're each planning to have a child using the same guy.

I did lots of googling in the months before I pulled the trigger to purchase sperm in terms of whether to go the IUI or ICI route. It seemed like a lot of what's out there is opinion and first-hand experience, and when you look at the "statistics" they seem to differ from website to website as to which method is best. Some swear by a relaxed environment and say that since that it's mimicking sex, which has worked for a millennia, you're good to go. Others swear it's a waste of money and that you should go straight for the IUI.

After purchasing the sperm and feeling kind of confident in that decision, I just joined this forum and looked over all the "Home Insemination" threads I could find. They're all pretty negative about ICI. So, what I'm hoping is that someone with a positive experience might chime in here... offer advice, encouragement? Anyone in the medical field have any insight? I'm hoping I didn't just waste lots of money if there's something you guys know that I don't... I guess I'm panicking.

We're planning to try our first attempt in August, 2016 and I am currently being diligent about tracking my cycles, going on Vitex, and some other vitamins... and just crossing my fingers.

CurlyQ

annemaccarroll wrote: »

My wife and I just purchased several ICI samples from one donor - we're each planning to have a child using the same guy.

I did lots of googling in the months before I pulled the trigger to purchase sperm in terms of whether to go the IUI or ICI route. It seemed like a lot of what's out there is opinion and first-hand experience, and when you look at the "statistics" they seem to differ from website to website as to which method is best. Some swear by a relaxed environment and say that since that it's mimicking sex, which has worked for a millennia, you're good to go. Others swear it's a waste of money and that you should go straight for the IUI.

After purchasing the sperm and feeling kind of confident in that decision, I just joined this forum and looked over all the "Home Insemination" threads I could find. They're all pretty negative about ICI. So, what I'm hoping is that someone with a positive experience might chime in here... offer advice, encouragement? Anyone in the medical field have any insight? I'm hoping I didn't just waste lots of money if there's something you guys know that I don't... I guess I'm panicking.

We're planning to try our first attempt in August, 2016 and I am currently being diligent about tracking my cycles, going on Vitex, and some other vitamins... and just crossing my fingers.

I don't have any medical advice. Im wishing you guys the best and nothing but a positive experience. I wish I had your balls and could it on my wife..
Keep us posted again best of luck

JDumanz44

Hey... I have never done an at-home insemination, but I was also wondering the same thing.

With my son we did an IUI, and bam it worked the first time. Almost 3 years later, we have tried 5 IUI's (one un-medicated cycle, four medicated-one with injectables) and none took. Long story short, in-between, we tried IVF but it was canceled due to me only producing 2 mature follicles.

I guess my only advice is that it really depends on the person. Have either of you been tested to make sure your ovarian reserve is fine and tubes are fine? Do you mind telling me your age? I'm 33 and while on paper (bloodwork), everything looks perfect, I am still having a hard time getting pregnant again.

The good news is, if you still have leftover ICI vials (if you try at home and it doesn't work) - most clinics can wash the sperm themselves and you can then use that for an IUI (mine did that once).

Whatever you decide, I wish you all of the luck in the world.

annemaccarroll

CurlyQ - Wish you had the ball to what?

annemaccarroll

JDumanz44 - I'll be 33 in September. I went the ICI route because I've had regular OBGYN checkups all my life and am kind of leaning on family history. My mother got pregnant with each of us kids the first month after getting off birth control, and my sister (at age 31) also got pregnant on their first unprotected try. I guess I'm just seeing how it goes until I have a reason to think there might be an issue.

That's good to know about being able to wash unused ICI specimens.

One thing I just ran across recently is The Stork OTC. It looks like it gets fairy good results for people who have been trying and failing, and might be something for you to try as well. They're expensive (about 80 per device for a single usage, or 150 for a pair). It's essentially a device that places a cervical cap (w/semen) next to the cervix and allows the semen close proximity for up to 6 hours. I went ahead and purchased two for our August attempt. Also heard great things about Vitrex - so will def be using that as well.

Thanks for the responses, and good luck to all!

JDumanz44

It's amazing how some women are incredibly fertile! Both of my grandmothers each had 10 kids, and my mom had 7! I am just asking for one more, lol. I think it makes sense to do it how you're doing it and I hope it works the first time for you!

Thanks for mentioning The Storck OTC. I just Googled it and read a bit about it, I'll definitely keep that in mind! Thank you. I've never heard of Vitrex, but I'll have to look into that more as well.

Keep me posted on your progress!!

annemaccarroll

Thanks! BTW that was a typo. It's Vitex.

CLBaby

Make sure you've done your research on Vitex. My wife and I tried 3 at home ICI with fresh donor sperm and no luck but I know plenty of friends who have and succeeded on multiple occasions. Anyways, I kept seeing things about Vitex and was ready to try any method that would help, assist, whatever. Then I read more and Vitex can be a great thing for people who have PCOS but if you have regular periods and a good cycle (mine's like clockwork) then Vitex can actually mess that up. It's a root and it naturally balances your body's chemicals and regulates you, so if you don't need it, don't use it. Also, it takes a few months (3 if I remember correctly) to actually work correctly if you do truly need it. Good luck! Positive thoughts, good energy, relax and know what's meant to be will be. I hope you and your wife succeed. **Tip - check out Preseed.

annemaccarroll

That's a really great point I never thought about. My periods are usually normal... I've been on it about a month now. I'll do more research for sure. Seems I've been doing nothing but research for months on everything! Thanks for chiming in!

CLBaby

The internet is a wonderful place filled with lots and lots of information!!! Wishing you the best of luck!!

annemaccarroll

We've ordered 1 vial of ICI to be shipped to our house next week for insem!

annemaccarroll

Any final tips are appreciated.

JDumanz44

Hey... I wish I could help. I was actually interesting in finding out more about at-home inseminations as well. I've only done IUI's so far but it's getting expensive. I have no reason to think that it's female-factor (we only chose a donor because of male-factor infertility), so it's something I would consider trying. GOOD LUCK

jmd23

My wife and I were successful on our first attempt at home and I gave birth to our baby boy in March. We used The Stork as well as Pre Seed. The Pre Seed wasnt really necessary but in all of our research it had good reviews and lots of people had been successful using it so we figured we would just give it a shot. We started out going through a fertility clinic and had all of the initial testing done to make sure I was healthy. Everything looked great from all of the test so we decided to try at home just once and if we were unsuccessful we would try the next month with Shady Grove. The doctor from Shady Grove was positive we were gong to be unsuccessful and basically made us feel like we were wasting time and money. I had been tracking ovulation and basal body temp for about 3 months so we thought we had a good idea of the week we were going to need to make sure we had our vials at home. We live close enough so we actually went and picked them up. We used the Clear Blue Advanced Digital Ovulation test and we seemed to have timed everything perfectly. Got the peak smiley on the ovulation test kit 2 days after picking up our vials and did the first ICI attempt at around 5-6pm that evening and then did a second attempt 12 hours later at 6am the next morning. The doctor pretty much made us think we had no chance at being successful but we proved him wrong and he was pretty shocked when we followed up with him to confirm the pregnancy LOL

Wish you the best of luck next week with your attempt. If you have any questions feel free to message me.