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Trying to get Pregnant

Trying to get Pregnant

Understanding Your Body: 6 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms.

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When you are first pregnant there can be a lot of emotional ups and downs as you begin to notice early pregnancy symptoms, becoming a game of ‘period or pregnancy.’ Getting the results that yes, you are pregnant is such an amazing feeling, especially if you have been trying to conceive. Symptom spotting or feeling anxiety about how your body is reacting to pregnancy can create negative emotions surrounding early pregnancy. Let’s talk more about the symptoms you may experience when you are 6 weeks pregnant to help ease the burden and worry about what happens after your positive results. Missed Period Missing a period can be an unclear sign for anyone who has an irregular cycle, but for most, missing a period is the most obvious symptom of pregnancy. Some people experience some slight bleeding after implantation, aptly called implantation bleeding. Implantation bleeding could be mistaken for a light period, but it should be apparent that it is different from what you see during a regular cycle.  Nausea Books, movies, TV, social media all showcase the hallmark symptom of pregnancy, nausea. Due to the rapid rise in hormones, you can feel mild to severe nausea resulting in decreased appetite and vomiting. Often, you’ll feel increased nausea with hunger or fullness or around strong scents.   Nausea can last from a few weeks, months, or for the entire pregnancy. Severe nausea during the pregnancy is diagnosed as hyperemesis gravidarum, characterized by extreme nausea, and can be treated medically.  Nausea doesn’t typically appear until 5 or 6 weeks of pregnancy and the lack of nausea does not indicate abnormalities in your pregnancy.  Metallic Taste Unusual metallic taste in your mouth is a very weird symptom, but it happens. Having this taste in your mouth happens between meals and can be a very early symptom of pregnancy. Due to its subjective nature, this symptom can be difficult to assess. Breast/Chest Tenderness Like other symptoms, the increased hormones lead to physical pain and breast or chest tenderness. Showing up closer to 6 weeks into pregnancy, this symptom is unmistakable and uncomfortable to put it mildly. Most pregnant people experience this symptom, so be on the lookout for a sore chest.  Breast/Chest Swelling Speaking of the chest, you may notice an increase in size in the first few weeks of pregnancy and continue to grow. By the end of pregnancy, you can see an increase in a cup size or two. Exhaustion Being tired is an understatement in the first trimester. You may find yourself napping throughout the first trimester of pregnancy. Even at 6 weeks of pregnancy you may see this symptom. Bloating Leaving you in the ballpark of too-soon-for-maternity clothes but I-can’t-fit-these-jeans. Similar to bloating during the menstrual cycle, it can feel uncomfortable to button the top button, but in this case as your uterus accommodates the growing fetus you’ll need to switch over to looser and larger clothing.  If you find yourself symptom spotting or searching for 6 weeks pregnant symptoms, you may want to grab an over-the-counter pregnancy test or go to a healthcare office to have a pregnancy test performed. This will help give much needed answers about symptoms you may be experiencing.  Every pregnancy is unique, you may experience all or none of these symptoms at six weeks of pregnancy or have different symptoms all together. Your best guide for your medical and pregnancy needs will always be your personal healthcare team. Be sure to talk with your healthcare partner for any concerns or questions you may have about your pregnancy.  Whew after reading all of these symptoms I need a nap, a snack, and sweatpants. Go take a deep breath and congratulations on your new or soon to be pregnancy!

Trying to get Pregnant

How does an Ovulation Test Work? Unraveling the Science

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Kudos! You are thinking about family building and are looking for more information than the proverbial “the birds and the bees “. Here are three starting tips: The first two items make sense, so you start to research ovulation trackers and find a dizzying array of choices: Period tracking apps, basal body temperature, cervical mucus tracking and ovulation predictor kits (OPKs).  Your further research finds that OPKs are especially popular. Why? Folks who incorporate fertility awareness and timed intercourse conceive faster and more successfully.  So, what are OPKs? What is an Ovulation Test? First, if you are having regular menstrual cycles, then you are ovulating regularly! A monthly surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland in the brain precedes ovulation. The LH surge is so powerful that LH levels are detected in your urine. This nifty fact makes ovulation tests, or urinary LH kits an attractive method for home testing. If you are planning to use ovulation tests, then you have to get comfortable with peeing/urinating on a stick.  The urinary LH test is a visual antibody/antigen test or in fancier terms, a rapid chromatographic immunoassay for qualitative urinary LH detection. The antibody/antigen test is a lock and key mechanism. The LH antibody is the lock, and your urinary LH is the antigen or key. The test is loaded with LH antibody and if your urine has a high enough level of LH, your LH binds to the antibody and changes the color of the test to show a colored line. If this sounds quite similar to a home hCG/pregnancy test, that is because it is! Tips to using Ovulation Tests

Trying to get Pregnant

Understanding Your Body: 6 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

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When you are first pregnant there can be a lot of emotional ups and downs as you begin to notice early pregnancy symptoms, becoming a game of ‘period or pregnancy.’ Getting the results that yes, you are pregnant is such an amazing feeling, especially if you have been trying to conceive. Symptom spotting or feeling anxiety about how your body is reacting to pregnancy can create negative emotions surrounding early pregnancy. Let’s talk more about the symptoms you may experience when you are 6 weeks pregnant to help ease the burden and worry about what happens after your positive results. Missed Period Missing a period can be an unclear sign for anyone who has an irregular cycle, but for most, missing a period is the most obvious symptom of pregnancy. Some people experience some slight bleeding after implantation, aptly called implantation bleeding. Implantation bleeding could be mistaken for a light period, but it should be apparent that it is different from what you see during a regular cycle.  Nausea Books, movies, TV, social media all showcase the hallmark symptom of pregnancy, nausea. Due to the rapid rise in hormones, you can feel mild to severe nausea resulting in decreased appetite and vomiting. Often, you’ll feel increased nausea with hunger or fullness or around strong scents.   Nausea can last from a few weeks, months, or for the entire pregnancy. Severe nausea during the pregnancy is diagnosed as hyperemesis gravidarum, characterized by extreme nausea, and can be treated medically.  Nausea doesn’t typically appear until 5 or 6 weeks of pregnancy and the lack of nausea does not indicate abnormalities in your pregnancy.  Metallic Taste Unusual metallic taste in your mouth is a very weird symptom, but it happens. Having this taste in your mouth happens between meals and can be a very early symptom of pregnancy. Due to its subjective nature, this symptom can be difficult to assess. Breast/Chest Tenderness Like other symptoms, the increased hormones lead to physical pain and breast or chest tenderness. Showing up closer to 6 weeks into pregnancy, this symptom is unmistakable and uncomfortable to put it mildly. Most pregnant people experience this symptom, so be on the lookout for a sore chest.  Breast/Chest Swelling Speaking of the chest, you may notice an increase in size in the first few weeks of pregnancy and continue to grow. By the end of pregnancy, you can see an increase in a cup size or two. Exhaustion Being tired is an understatement in the first trimester. You may find yourself napping throughout the first trimester of pregnancy. Even at 6 weeks of pregnancy you may see this symptom. Bloating Leaving you in the ballpark of too-soon-for-maternity clothes but I-can’t-fit-these-jeans. Similar to bloating during the menstrual cycle, it can feel uncomfortable to button the top button, but in this case as your uterus accommodates the growing fetus you’ll need to switch over to looser and larger clothing.  If you find yourself symptom spotting or searching for 6 weeks pregnant symptoms, you may want to grab an over-the-counter pregnancy test or go to a healthcare office to have a pregnancy test performed. This will help give much needed answers about symptoms you may be experiencing.  Every pregnancy is unique, you may experience all or none of these symptoms at six weeks of pregnancy or have different symptoms all together. Your best guide for your medical and pregnancy needs will always be your personal healthcare team. Be sure to talk with your healthcare partner for any concerns or questions you may have about your pregnancy.  Whew after reading all of these symptoms I need a nap, a snack, and sweatpants. Go take a deep breath and congratulations on your new or soon to be pregnancy!

Trying to get Pregnant

Optimizing Conceptions: Utilizing an Ovulation Calculator

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When you’re trying to get pregnant it’s all about the timing. Narrowing down the optimal time to conceive, either with at home insemination or intercourse with a partner, can be tough. The ovulation window changes depending on the person and can vary slightly each month.  Let’s dive into optimizing conception by calculating when ovulation is occurring for you. Estimating when ovulation is occurring is critical for timing sperm exposure regardless of method. Here are some key signs to lookout for: 1- Positive or a peak result on an ovulation predictor kit (OPK) OPKs measure luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in your urine. This hormone rises, reaching a peak when a mature egg is ready for ovulation. At peak LH, ovulation then occurs between 24 and 48 hours. 2- Changes in cervical mucus Cervical mucus is made of proteins, enzymes, fats, and immune cells. It aids in protecting the vagina and functions as a lubricant. During ovulation cervical mucus changes to allow for sperm to enter the cervix. A rise in estrogen as your body prepares for ovulation drives changes in the cervical mucus.  Characteristics of cervical mucus during ovulation is thinner, more wet feeling, slippery, stretchy, and clear. You will often see this described as “egg whites.” If you are checking your cervical mucus, be sure to always wash your hands to avoid introducing anything harmful into the vaginal canal. 3- You may feel your body release an egg: Some people can feel a small pinch or sensation when ovulation is occurring. However, most of us are symptom spotting for any changes in our body when we’re trying to conceive and that it can make it hard to be sure of what we’re feeling. It would be a good idea to couple this sign with another method to help confirm. 4- Basal body temperature increase: This is a difficult one to get right and takes a lot of patience. You will need a thermometer that is made to track basal temperatures specifically, and you will need to take your temperature first thing in the morning as soon as you wake up, before you move out of bed. After taking your temperature at the same time every day, you will get an idea of what your normal temperatures are and may see a small rise after ovulation has occurred. The increase may be only one or two degrees. This is another method that should be coupled with other ovulation tracking methods.  Monitoring your body’s signs and symptoms during your entire cycle will help you create a personal ovulation calculator. This will vary slightly each month, tracking a couple of months before you plan on trying to conceive will help you get an idea about which days you are typically ovulating. This ovulation window will tell you the best times to introduce sperm for conception.  It may be time to visit a healthcare provider if you are having irregular menstrual cycles or if you are unable to track your ovulation at home. Your healthcare team will be able to provide more in-depth information about your unique body dynamics. 

Trying to get Pregnant

How does an Ovulation Test Work? Unraveling the Science

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Kudos! You are thinking about family building and are looking for more information than the proverbial “the birds and the bees “. Here are three starting tips: The first two items make sense, so you start to research ovulation trackers and find a dizzying array of choices: Period tracking apps, basal body temperature, cervical mucus tracking and ovulation predictor kits (OPKs).  Your further research finds that OPKs are especially popular. Why? Folks who incorporate fertility awareness and timed intercourse conceive faster and more successfully.  So, what are OPKs? What is an Ovulation Test? First, if you are having regular menstrual cycles, then you are ovulating regularly! A monthly surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland in the brain precedes ovulation. The LH surge is so powerful that LH levels are detected in your urine. This nifty fact makes ovulation tests, or urinary LH kits an attractive method for home testing. If you are planning to use ovulation tests, then you have to get comfortable with peeing/urinating on a stick.  The urinary LH test is a visual antibody/antigen test or in fancier terms, a rapid chromatographic immunoassay for qualitative urinary LH detection. The antibody/antigen test is a lock and key mechanism. The LH antibody is the lock, and your urinary LH is the antigen or key. The test is loaded with LH antibody and if your urine has a high enough level of LH, your LH binds to the antibody and changes the color of the test to show a colored line. If this sounds quite similar to a home hCG/pregnancy test, that is because it is! Tips to using Ovulation Tests

oldposts, Trying to get Pregnant

Best Ovulation Tests

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If you are looking to get pregnant quickly (and both partners have no underlying fertility issues), timing is the key. The optimal time to conceive is called your fertile window. Peak fertility or ovulation is not standard across all cycles. This means that accurately predicting ovulation is individual. Even those with regular cycles can have highly variable timing of their fertile window. Because of this, determining ovulation based on a calendar method or calculations (assuming ovulation is day 14 or dividing the length of your menstrual cycle by two) is not necessarily accurate. Monitoring physical symptoms can provide you more information about the actual timing of your fertile window. This is where an ovulation test kit can be useful. To understand precisely how ovulation tests help, it’s helpful to understand what exactly is meant by your fertile window. Identifying Your Fertile Window There are only certain days of a menstrual cycle where conception is possible. This 6-day timeframe is referred to as a “fertile window” and includes the five days preceding ovulation and the day of ovulation itself. This time period is determined by adding together the maximum possible viability of both the sperm and egg. When an egg is released, it must be fertilized within 12-24 hours, or it is reabsorbed back into the body. Sperm can live inside of the female reproductive tract in the right conditions for up to 5 days. Together, the possible range for fertilization to occur becomes this 6-day fertile window. Which days are you most likely to get pregnant? While pregnancy is possible over these 6 days, it is most likely to occur during the two days preceding ovulation and the day of ovulation itself. In a study of 221 women, couples who had sex once during this three-day timeframe had a 27% to 33% chance of becoming pregnant. The study reported that the likelihood of becoming pregnant if you have sex during the fertile window was as follows: 5 days before ovulation – 10 % 4 days before ovulation – 16 % 3 days before ovulation – 14 % 2 days -before ovulation 27 % 1 day – 31% Day of ovulation – 33% Another study shows that sex on the day before ovulation is most likely to translate to pregnancy and that chances of conception drop dramatically to almost 0% after ovulation. Bottom line: There is a 6-day window that consists of the five days before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself for the fertile window where pregnancy is possible. Of these days, the final two days and the day of ovulation have the highest probability of conception. (Read about fertility-friendly lubricants) Don’t I Ovulate on Cycle Day 14? The clinical guidelines have long been that a median menstrual cycle is 28 days with a steady 14-day luteal phase (number of days after ovulation until the next period), meaning that ovulation is generalized to occur on day 14. There is much more variation among cycles, meaning that this would not be the most accurate way of determining your fertile window. In a large study, the mean menstrual cycle was 29.3 days, and follicular phase length, or ovulation date, was 16.9 days. Only around 13% of cycles were found to be 28 days long. One study found that women seeking treatment at fertility clinics had attempted to identify their fertile window, but few could do it accurately. The researchers concluded that a lack of fertility awareness can cause problems when trying to get pregnant and might be a contributing cause of infertility. Online Ovulation Calendars What about those free online ovulation calendars? Most online ovulation test calculators that “calculate” your fertile window with only your cycle length likely use the day 14 assumption. We know that not everyone ovulates on day 14, making these results not accurate for many people. More accurate results come from interpreting signs from your own body through fertility awareness or luteinizing hormone (LH) ovulation tests. Read: Implantation Calendar: What is Happening During the Two-Week Wait? What is an Ovulation Test? A basic ovulation test can be done at home and will help you predict when your body will release an egg through the process of ovulation. By identifying when you ovulate, you can time sex for the best chance of getting pregnant. How Do Ovulation Tests Work? Most urine-based ovulation predictor tests work by detecting the amount of luteinizing hormone (LH) present in urine. A surge of this hormone triggers a follicle to release an egg, and detecting this surge can be used to predict ovulation. A surge of LH means that the chances are high that ovulation is coming up. Standard LH Ovulation Tests The majority of tests on the market fall into this category. They are either a strip (or dip) test where a test strip is dipped into a cup of urine or a midstream test where a test stick with an absorbent tip is held in the urine stream (think pee-on-a-stick). All of these tests are qualitative or threshold, which means that a certain hormone level will trigger a positive result. The threshold is often 25 mIU/ml or 40 mIU/mL (mIU/mL is the abbreviation for the measurement milli-international units per milliliter.) Because they are threshold-based (yes/no), these tests don’t work well for people with atypical hormone patterns, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), symptoms of menopause, or those taking some fertility-enhancing medications. The user interprets the results by how dark a line is compared to a test line. The more of the hormone present, the darker the line will appear. The tests tend to be in a lower price range. Digital Tests With digital tests, a test stick is inserted into urine and then entered into a mini-computer that analyzes the sample and displays the results. The main advantage of digital tests is the results displays on a screen, and there is no interpretation involved. Even though these tests are more sophisticated, they are still qualitative/threshold and are triggered by a certain

oldposts, Trying to get Pregnant

Ovulation Tracking Charts

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A BBT chart is used to track fluctuations in basal body temperature (BBT), which is your body’s temperature at rest. Because a slight rise in temperature occurs at the time of ovulation, tracking BBT over time helps identify low and peak fertility. (Check out our intro to BBT charting.) Digital tracking with the use of various apps has become a popular way to track BBT, but for some, the traditional paper and pen method of tracking is the way to go. If you have determined that pen-to-paper is your method, finding a paper chart with the ideal layout for you is next. Here is a selection of BBT charts that might do the trick. Free Printable Ovulation Chart Options Source: Taking Charge of Your Fertility Source: MyMonthlyCycles.com Source: TheBabyCorner.com Source: BabyCenter.com Download BBT Charts Fertility In Focus available on Etsy $3.00

oldposts, Trying to get Pregnant

Fertility Tests for Women

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When seeking help for infertility, diagnosis usually begins with a detailed medical history. By asking questions about your medical, surgical, gynecological, and obstetric history, doctors can discover relevant information that may explain or provide a clue as to why you aren’t getting pregnant. This is followed by a pelvic ultrasound examination that can reveal abnormalities of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. The number of resting follicles in the ovary can also be counted using ultrasound to give an indication of the potential response to ovarian stimulation during fertility treatment. Most couples will have basic fertility testing done before being informed of their chance of success and treatment recommendations. Basic fertility testing usually includes: Measurement of the ovarian reserve by measuring follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol levels Resting follicle count and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) Basic blood tests to measure hormone levels Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to check the uterus and fallopian tubes Semen analysis These basic tests can be started as soon as you visit a fertility doctor. It’s possible that following these tests, no further testing will be necessary. Pregnancy can be attempted during the diagnostic phase; for example, intrauterine insemination (IUI) can be done in conjunction with clomiphene and can be carried out in the same cycle as a hysterosalpingogram. Blood Tests to Measure Ovarian Reserve The body is a delicate balance of chemicals, and blood tests help identify whether there is an imbalance in the endocrine (hormone) system that could be contributing to your infertility. Here are some of the blood tests that may be done: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) Luteinizing hormone Prolactin Estrogen Vitamin D levels Progesterone Testosterone Thyroxin Thyroid-stimulating hormone Blood tests can be used to assess how many eggs are left in the ovary (also called ovarian reserve). The tests include anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), Day 3 FSH and estradiol. These are strong predictors of how well your body will respond to fertility drugs. The results of these blood tests, along with the resting follicle count (also called the antral follicle count), are the most conclusive tests of ovarian reserve. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Levels A measure of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level shows how hard your body has to work to stimulate a follicle to grow each month. A high FSH level on Day 3 shows that the pituitary gland in the brain is trying to stimulate an ovary that has a diminished capacity to respond. This is a poor prognostic sign. Although FSH levels mainly correlate with egg quantity, it should be taken as part of the bigger picture and used in conjunction with other diagnostic factors. The age of the woman is the most overwhelming predictor of success from fertility treatments. A young woman with a high FSH still has a better chance of becoming pregnant than an older woman with normal FSH has. The older woman could have many eggs, but they are more likely to be abnormal because of her age. In the end, quality is what really counts. FSH levels can predict the chance of a cycle being canceled because of a low response or low egg yield, but age is a better predictor for pregnancy. Ovarian reserve, together with the female partner’s age, are the best predictors of a treatment’s success. Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) Test Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a protein made by cells in small ovarian follicles. Production is highest in the early stages of follicular development when the follicles are smaller than 4 millimeters (less than 1/8 inch) in diameter and stops when the follicle gets bigger. Because only small follicles produce AMH, the circulating blood level can be used as a fairly accurate indicator of how many tiny microscopic follicles are left in the ovary. This is the ovarian reserve. With increasing age, the ovarian reserve and the amount of AMH produced decline. On the other hand, women with many small follicles (such as those with polycystic ovaries) or a good supply of primary follicles, have a high level of AMH. Remember, AMH level is not an indicator of egg quality. We do know, however, that the more eggs we retrieve in an IVF cycle, the greater the chance we have to create good quality embryos for transfer. AMH levels may give us an indirect prediction of a woman’s chance to conceive. One advantage AMH testing has over FSH testing is that the levels are quite constant, and testing can be done on any day of the cycle. No test is perfect, so the results from both the FSH and AMH testing are used in conjunction with other factors when predicting success rates for fertility treatments. It is important to remember that no test for ovarian reserve can predict your ability to spontaneously conceive. Additionally, a normal test tells you that your ovarian reserve is normal today, it cannot predict what your reserve will look like in one year or three years. The tests simply tell you egg quantity and how well you are likely to respond to fertility treatment. Hysterosalpingogram for Infertility A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is a common test used to determine whether the tubes are (patent) open and if the uterine cavity is normal. A catheter is placed through the cervix into the uterus, and a contrasting dye is injected into the uterine cavity. X-rays are taken of the pelvic area to determine if the dye is traveling through the tubes and spilling into the pelvis, indicating that they are clear and whether there are any uterine abnormalities. An HSG is part of the basic testing done in the early stages of diagnosis. It’s performed between Days 5 and 11 of the menstrual cycle, and a woman can attempt conception in the same month. This test is typically performed either by your fertility doctor or by a radiologist in the X-ray department of a hospital or clinic and usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. You may feel some cramping similar to menstrual cramps during the test and for a short time after. Sonohysterogram for Infertility A

Trying to get Pregnant

Fertility Stories: When Building a Family Takes a Whole Family

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Life can have a way of stopping you in your tracks and all that seemed important at that time becomes seemingly unimportant. Combine years of grinding through multiple fertility treatments, only to find out that your new herculean fight is not just infertility, but it is for your life. That the future family that you had once thought to be uncertain, has become exponentially more indefinite. I can tell you from my own experience, that there is nothing that will make you fall to your knees harder than hearing the numbing news from your doctor that carrying your pregnancy will never be an option for you. Enter in Alisia and her husband, Craig. Their story is one of true grit, love, and boundless hope. Amidst all of the heartache, something beautiful happened. The pages of their incredible story are not just written by this couple alone; two others helped change the course of what once was their overwhelming uncertainty. They say it takes a village, for Alisia and Craig it was way more than that. For them, it took several family members to help build the family they endlessly hoped to have. Here is what Alisia had to say when I asked her to get personal with FertilitySmarts: This Is Us Craig and I actually went to the same high school. He is two years older than me and I didn’t know him personally, but I knew of him. One summer night in 2006, I was out with my friends in downtown Norfolk where Craig and I ran into each other. We recognized each other, started talking, kept in touch, and eventually started dating. Fast forward five years from there, we got married and had just celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary! Craig works as a marketing manager for a railroad company, and I am a project manager for a healthcare company. We both love traveling, enjoying the outdoors and spending quality time with our family. We are both very close to our families and are so excited to have one of our own. How Our Fertility Journey Started In 2008 I received a kidney transplant from my younger brother, and after having two kidney rejection episodes, my doctors strongly encouraged me not to try to get pregnant both for my health and the health of my unborn child. A few years later, my sister Stephanie, nonchalantly suggested that she would carry our baby for us, but back then I didn’t really think anything of it because I wasn’t yet seriously trying to start a family. Craig and I had a plan that we would focus on and enjoy just being married for a few years and then talk about starting a family. So in 2014, we talked to my doctors about our options, again they advised that I not try to get pregnant. That’s when I went to my sister, and with no pressure at all, I asked her if she was serious about being a gestational surrogate. She was! Treatment Milestones My most memorable milestone was my first egg retrieval. Everyone tells you that you shouldn’t get your hopes up when trying for the first time with IVF because it rarely works the very first time. I just knew that I would be part of the few that would tell the story that it worked for us the first time. I was so excited; I took pictures when my first package of injections came in and even got excited every evening when it was time for Craig to give me my injections. I had a decent number of really nice sized follicles, but unfortunately, I woke up from my first egg retrieval to my doctor telling me she found nothing. Yes, nothing as in zero eggs. I knew there was a possibility that at my age and will my health history that I may not have a ton of eggs— but nothing? I was devastated, and it took me a while to get over it and start looking into what went wrong and find out what the next protocol would be to try all over again. Continuing to believe that it would work for us along with the prayers, support, and encouragement of our family and friends kept us pushing forward. Where are we now? After almost four years of appointments, medications, infertility shots, multiple egg retrievals, various procedures for my sister to make sure we had the best chance of a successful cycle, our daughter arrived in August 2018!! On the morning of August 4th, 2018 Craig and I were able to witness the bravery of my sister giving birth to our daughter. We will never forget that moment and will always be grateful to my sister, Stephanie, for the sacrifices she’s made so that we could have our daughter, Audrey. These days we are settling into our new normal while watching our little one grow by the day. What I Want You to Know Not having a child does not make you less than a woman. Being a mother does not complete your life or make your life any less important than anyone else’s. If you are struggling with infertility and are on a journey to start a family of your own, please be sure to enjoy your current life each day because your time will come. I was in a place where life was about the next IVF cycle. I rushed the months by because I was so focused on the next stimulation, trigger shot and egg retrieval dates. Keep trying to live and enjoy your life in the meantime. Also, don’t feel guilty about not telling people what you’re going through in your own infertility journey. It’s your personal story and when or if you have to plan to have a child is no one’s business. But when you’re ready to talk about it, know your story will likely help someone out there who feels alone or feels like infertility isn’t as common as

Trying to get Pregnant

A Guide to At-Home Insemination

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Insemination at home is an option for individuals and couples looking to conceive without penetrative intercourse and who have no known fertility issues. If you plan on using donor sperm or have ejaculation-related difficulties, this could be a conception method that works for you. Here we’ll take a look at what it entails—and how to do it yourself. What is at-home insemination? At-home insemination means placing semen or sperm in the vagina by a method other than having sex, usually without the help of a healthcare provider. There are several different terminologies for insemination that you might come across. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is always done at the doctor’s office. With IUI, the sample is washed, and the sperm are concentrated into a small volume. The sperm is then placed through the cervix directly into the uterus using a thin catheter. Raw semen cannot be placed directly into the uterus as it can cause a severe adverse reaction. Intracervical insemination (ICI) and intravaginal insemination (IVI) are similar methods. With ICI, the sperm is placed very close to the cervix, either by the doctor or at home using a long syringe or insemination catheter. With IVI, the sperm is placed anywhere in the vagina. ICI and IVI can be done at home and, because they do not involve the introduction of sperm directly into the uterus, sperm used for ICI and IVI may be either washed or unwashed At-Home Insemination with Donor Sperm A common reason for individuals considering at-home insemination is that they are using donor sperm. When working with anonymous, prescreened donors who have waived their rights to paternity, you can order vials of frozen semen from several online clinics. These donors have been thoroughly screened for infectious diseases and have waived their rights to any contact with future offspring. The clinics typically offer a variety of samples, and you can choose a donor based on physical characteristics, personality, and educational background. Obtaining sperm from a donor can be a lengthy process. There may be a waiting period of up to six months, even with sperm from a known donor. The sample is shipped to you in a special tank that is kept frozen with liquid nitrogen vapor. You have to keep the vial of sperm in this tank until you are ready to use it (you can’t put it in your home freezer, or it will die). The sperm bank will usually want the tank to be returned to them within a week, so it’s a good idea to track your cycle carefully beforehand, so you know exactly when to schedule the delivery. The donor sperm clinic will give you special instructions on how to handle and thaw the frozen vial of sperm. You should wear protective gloves to remove it from the tank as it will be very cold. Allow the sample to thaw completely at room temperature before insemination, and do not use heat to thaw the vial. There are three types of donor sperm samples. These are usually called intracervical insemination (ICI), intravaginal insemination (IVI), and intrauterine insemination (IUI): ICI and IVI samples contain raw semen that has not been washed and can be used for at-home insemination. IUI samples have been washed and do not contain raw semen. They can be used for both at-home insemination or IUI insemination at the doctor’s office. At-Home Insemination with Fresh Semen If you are using fresh semen either from a known donor or from your partner, you will need a container to collect the semen sample. A collection cup with a wide mouth and a shallow depth is ideal. If you use a container from home, make sure you wash and dry it thoroughly; any small amount of soap or water could kill the sperm. The male partner should produce the semen without using any lubricants unless they are specifically sperm-friendly. You will want to use the sample within an hour of collection. A fresh sample should be easy to draw into a syringe for insemination. Supplies for At-Home Insemination Placing the sample into a vagina is commonly done by using a needleless syringe called an insemination syringe. You can also buy syringes from a pharmacy. Just ask the pharmacist for a medication syringe. In the IVF lab, we use Norm-ject syringes, and these work well with biological samples. The volume of syringe you need will depend on the type of sample you are using: The volume of donor sperm is usually very small (less than 1 mL). You will want a syringe that is as small as possible, between 1-5 mL. A freshly produced sample will be approximately 3 mL. You will need a 5 mL syringe. What you do not want to do is use a turkey baster! These are way too big for the volume of the sample you are using. Timing is Critical with Home Insemination – Know your Fertile Window One of the most important aspects of at-home insemination is to make sure you introduce the sample during the most optimal time to conceive during your cycle, also known as your fertile window. Tracking your menstrual cycle carefully will increase your chances of success. This can be done by observing your basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and cervical position, and the use of ovulation predictor kits. You will likely want three months of tracking to feel comfortable identifying the best time in your cycle to perform the insemination. For more details, check out: How Basal Body Temperature Can Help You Get Pregnant Identifying Fertile Cervical Mucus How do you know when you ovulate? Steps Involved in At-Home Insemination Identify your fertile window, which will occur just before ovulation. Prepare the sample as per directions if using donor sperm or allow a fresh sample to liquefy. Ensure you are in a comfortable place where you can lie down and elevate your hips with pillows. Draw the sample into the syringe and place it into the vagina as far as it is comfortable without

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FertilitySmarts was founded by Kelly Park several years ago with the intention of providing educational resources for individuals facing fertility challenges. In 2023, IVF Store, LLC acquired the platform, aiming to perpetuate Kelly’s mission while enhancing its content through contributions from esteemed fertility clinicians and experts globally. Presently, FertilitySmarts stands as a premier online information hub, featuring articles authored by recognized specialists in the realm, elucidating the scientific intricacies of fertility issues.

 

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