Thanks to those for the help with the DI question. The internet was suprizingly unhelpful on this issue. Plently of places that sold devices, but not many with any helpful information that was needed ASAP. It did point me to this site however. It was a strange situation to be in, where to turn, whom to ask for advice. Also, does anyone know if it is normal to have such terrible cramps, after just vaginal insemination, not IUI or even ICI. The syringe was just a small liquid medicine dropper. I read that donor sperm can be a foriegn body that can cause adverse reactions. Has anyone else experienced this? Could it be the sperm that is causing the cramps? Any info or insight would be helpful!

lots and lots of luck -- please let keep us updated !! I have had a few IUI's and always had some crapping after....., I think because of the med's and stuff. Did you take any injections ??? I would still think the cramping is normal -- take it easy !! I guess you should know something around nov 13 or so -- right ?? well baby dust to you !!

Oh -- I am fixing to do IVF with a donor from the cryobank -- I was thinking that If it didn't work -- I may try doing IUI by myself - Like you !!!! But this is our month -- right !!!!!!!!!!!!

oh by the way --- what was the intruction on how to unthaw the sperm .., did you have to do anything inparticular ????????????? knowing my I would have to get my a microscope and check them all !! well take care !!!!

When did you do the insemination? When I did mine, I had cramps and back pain about 4 days after and they did not stop. It was not painful to the point to drop me to my knees but as if I were going to get my AF right away. 8 days past my "O" I was cranky and just not myself. I tested "Not first morning either" It was after work. I had a faint line. I was excited. Then I tested the next day, and the line was still faint in the a.m. But by after noon when I tested It was brighter...

Just an FYI, I am talking about regular insem.. not the IUI. I did have that too... So I have both answers if you want on the IUI.

Hi thanks for responding, this is really great to have others that are shareing the same experiences. Well to answer Skycam you just place the vial in 98 degree water you know luke warm for 2-4 minutes, they say 10 minutes, but it is liquid pretty fast. It was strange opening up the tank for the first time, my GF and I did not know what to expect but we did two inseminations one day apart, so now we feel like old pros. Believe me we were checking them out with our microscope, it seemed like there were zillions of them. They were even alive the next morning, we checked, but moving a lot more slowly. I must admit it was a little upsetting and I was very squimish during the process. The smell of the semen made us gag, it seemed very strong, it was harder then I thought. I think I would have been better off in a more clinical situation, this was a litttle to real for me. In the Drs. office it may seem a little further removed and more like a proceedure, whereas this was real sperm that belonged to a stranger, very surreal! And I'm not sure if it is just in my mind, it feels very real, but I'm really having alot of cramping, I read on the internet that donor sperm can cause this because it is a foreign body and it happens to many women with donor sperm but because women are "used" to their husbands or partner's sperm it does not cause the same reaction. Well this is my first time with any sperm so maybe that is why. Scycam, you are doing IVF? Wow, that is really something, A good friend of mine did that a couple of times, but ended up using donor embies, as her eggs were not viable, she was over 40 and her Dr. said it would increase her chances. 3 previous IVFs did not take but the last one did and now she has twin boys, almost 6 months old and the funny thing is that they look exactly like her, they grew inside her and she says she cannot imagine feeling like they could be anymore then all hers. Best of luck to you that is very exciting news, and I will be thinking positive thoughts for you!!! Weare sing the same cryo bank, I wonder if its the same donor? We had such a hard time choosing. We live close to the cryobank and my GF teaches at UCLA right across the street from the bank, so she said it was funny returning the tank with all the students next door drinking coffee at the coffee bean, she said she kept looking around as if she was going to run into our donor. We picked the tank up last Saturday and it was not at all what I expected, I was thinking hospital atmosphere, but not at all. I'll keep you updated, but it doesn't feel real to me yet that I could possibly be prego!!!! Its just too exciting to get my hopes up

Queentiffy, so are you prego from IUI or just regular vaginal insemination? Your test showed positive after just one week? Wow I thought I would have to wait at least 2 weeks, now I'm excited, but worried at the same time. I'm glad to hear that you had cramping also, well not glad that you had pain, but that the cramping is normal. How many DIs did you have before it worked. When you're in high school they make you think you can get prego if a drop of semen is on your thigh. I had no idea it was going to be such a process, and after reading these boards I'm even more nervous. I was thinking it would happen if you buy the sperm and put it in. My mother and grandmother always said they got pregnant when a man looked at them, so I just thought I'd be the same. Now after all my reading I'm feeling as if my chances are slim, I'm over 35 and just starting to try. Did you like self insemination or the IUI better? Does it really make much of a difference? What brand of test did you use I read that some are more sensitive than others, maybe I'll try one this weekend, Yikes!!!

[hey missmel,,. how are you feeling today ?? I would wait at less 2 weeks before I would test. did you still have any cramping ? so tell me how is the cryobank ?? I wish I would of tried inseminated myself a few years ago -- just to see. I have had over 20 IUI's using donor sperm from the cryobank each time. I am really getting excite to do my first IVF -- can't wait ( Thanksgiving may be the big day) I told my GF about getting the donor sperm shipped directly to us -- she really sounded unsure about that ha -- but I really never thought I would be able to do that -- but now we know. so thanks !! at the doctors office they add some more liquid in it for some reason but -- all I know is that it is pink. The RE clinic that I go to said the the Cryobank was one of the best !! so that is good to hear. I really love that you can get all the information about the donor even a baby picture -- which I have !!. well lots and lots of luck to both of you !! take it easy !! you will be in my thoughts -- and a barrel of baby dust to you !!!!!!!!!! :cool:

Skysam, we didn't mix anything with it. Just took it straight from the vial. I was expecting there to be alot more than there actually was. It seemed like a very small amount. Our's was unwashed, and when you do IUI it is washed, which may be why your's was pink, or why your RE adds something to it, to help facilitate with the IUI proceedure, or maybe it is a stain to view the sperm mobility, I really have no idea and i'm just guessing, but if you remember, ask why next time and let me know. I read on the internet that you could add some saline solution to the sample to make sure you would get the rest out of the bottom of the vial or if you wanted to increase the volumn, but it was also a site about artificial insemination for horse breaders, so as you might imagine, we opted not to do that. Why did you choose IUI over ICI, any particular reason? We figured we would try at home a few times before we went to IUI. We never thought about IVF, and said if I couldn't after trying 6-8 months then my GF would, and we figured that was something that most couples cannot do. We are planning to both have a child, using the same donor so the sibilings have a genetic connection, I guess that is not really that important, but given the choice why not. We can adopt our partner's child in CA so it is an added family safety.
Best of luck to you on your upcoming IVF, let me know how you are doing

Wow -- !! I think that is wonderful !! You are both going to use the same donor !! I can surely tell already that you have a very strong and solid relationship. I really wish you both lots of luck !!! I have always went to a fertility specialist and they always wanted IUI -- since they insert the sperm right on top of the eggs -- they don't need anything to help the swim up - ha! I know it sounds funny -- but that is how It was pretty much explanned to me !!
so when it the big day --- ?? The big day that your BFP is confirmed ??!!!!!

How are you feeling ?? Well about 3 more weeks for me !!!!!!!!!!! well relax and take it easy !!!! and it was very nice meeting you !!!

shanel