IUI using a donor??

[granolamommie]

DH had the big V 4 years ago and we decided to ttc this summer using iui or ici.  I am not sure which.   Either way we are using a donor sperm.  I am nervous as I have read that frozen sperm have a lesser mobility.  Has anyone had luck with this? Known some one who had luck? Or if they had luck doing at home ici with frozen donor sperm?

[Cynthia Mosher]

Welcome to Mothering granolamommie!

Just thought I'd bump your post up for attention. And here are a couple of threads that might help:

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1360417/smc-considering-iui-with-sperm-bank-donor

http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1038680/iui-and-donor-sperm

You might find more information over in the Queer Parenting forum too. 

[granolamommie]

Thanks!! There is so much to think about and we don't have a lot of money.  DH only gave me 3 months to try. 

[pokeyAC]

There are lots of folks on here who have had success doing ICI at home.  I did IUI with frozen, and I am currently 18 weeks pregnant, so it can definitely work!  The key is getting the timing right.  Frozen can still have great motility and #'s, but it doesn't live as long as fresh sperm.  They don't really seem to know how long it lives inside you, but it is generally considered best to get your insemination as close to ovulation as possible.  You have to really know your fertility signs.  Before you pick a donor, you can ask the bank for the best #'s for quantity and motility for that donor.  That can help you decide. 

[granolamommie]

Thanks- are there people who did ICI with frozen sperm?  I am just worried about throwing my money away. I have had a few kids very easily, but dh had a V but we now regret it (hence donor) and IVF with semen extraction is not an option.

[pokeyAC]

There are definitely people who did ICI with frozen in the queer parenting forum.  They did it themselves at home.  It's a simple process.  It's jus the timing part that can be tricky.  There is a book by Stephanie Brill that is a guide to Lesbian Conception.  You may be able to find it at the library.  I know this does not apply to you, but their advice on timing could be useful because they specifically address working with frozen sperm.

[granolamommie]

Thank you...I think I will hop on over to the queer parenting forum. 

[Stevi]

You might also want to look into Vacsectomy reversal...

[granolamommie]

We looked into it- it is incredibly expensive and since its only for one child not really an option.  

[Stevi]

I didn't know that it was expensive. Though, I guess I should have guessed, considering how expensive everything else is in reproductive medicine! :)

[granolamommie]

LOL.  No kidding- and kids aren't cheap either- what we do for motherhood, right!  Yea it was like $10,000-15,000 and only 40%-50% effective or something. Then the probability of pregnancy is only 30% so really the odds are not that great.  Plus, we would have to do another kind of birth control  if it worked or we would have a duggar family!