I’m considering artificial insemination to have my second child. My ob/gyn plans to do intrauterine insemination in order to increase the chances of conception. I’ve known about this for months - and am planning to go in August. However, I just thought about what I am getting into - some kind of instrument will be going directly into my uterus!! What am I thinking!?? Anyway, for me, information helps in difficult circumstances, and I wanted to know from others’ experiences how this procedure generally goes.
What exactly happened? How did it feel? Was there any level of pain involved? I realize there must be some discomfort, but I would really like to hear in detail what it was like for those who have actually had the procedure.
I know labor is no fun, but at least the conception part last time was pleasurable. I’m not exactly expecting that this time, but what am I in for?
Thanks in advance for your descriptions/stories, what there may be!
Uncomfortable, indiscreet, kind of crampy and never resulted in a pregnancy.
Other people have different experiences. Most people I know who have done it don’t even understand when I say “kind of crampy” so I don’t think that is a universal.
Oh, it also involved REALLY early morning doctors appointments.
Man: How was that IUI?
Woman: Better than sex!
Man: How’s that?
Woman: It was cold and impersonal and I wasn’t satisfied, but the Doctor remembered my name.
devilsknew, are you suggesting that an implement isn’t put into the uterus in aninteruterine insemination? Because you’d be wrong. Yes, the syringe is introduced via the vagina, but the end is passed through the cervix into the uterus, hence the interuterine portion of the name.
My experiences, unfortunately, are much the same as Dangerosa’s. Uncomfortable, unpleasant, never successful. And the fifth time around, I’m there with my legs spread hither and yon with this plastic jammed into me, Mr. TeaElle holding my hands and whispering reassurances in my ears, and it occurred to me “This isn’t working for me.” I don’t know how much attitude has to do with the success rate, but mine certainly couldn’t have helped me at all.
Uhh…No Teaelle, I am not suggesting that. I just thought it would be funny to use this inside joke. Not many opportunities so close to context. I’m just trying to cheer up my friend and relieve some of her anxiety. From Dangerosa’s and your description it seems truly invasive and even painful, I sympathize with you all.
Best wishes G!
to a happy healthy and easy pregnancy and birth!
All the best for Baby G!
This was exactly my experience, too. Also, if you are having the procedure along with fertility drug therapy, if it doesn’t work one month, you won’t be able to do it the following because of tons of cysts on your ovaries. So, you get to wait a whole month to fail again. I mean try again. There are lots of blood tests involved. The best part about it was the appointments were so early I ended up getting great parking spots at work afterwards.
Oh, shit! None of this sounds good! (Except for the devilsknew stuff - tryna be funny again huh! - devil boy, I’ll deal with you later!) I’m wondering if it’s even less successful than “the fun way” (which is a lot of fun, but isn’t ever going to make a kid, due to my s.o. having no spermies). IUI is so damned expensive I thought there would be some sort of guarantee or something, but it sounds like no.
I have four months to sort it all out, so that’s why I wanted to find out about Doper experiences starting now. My Dr. said basically, “We do an ultrasound, make sure there’s a follicle in there, give you a shot to stimulate ovulation, and the next day put the sperm directly in your uterus.” Sounded like a sure-shot deal to me (no pun intended), especially since I’ve been taught from an early age that I could get pregnant if a sperm even looked at me funny (and indeed, I got pregnant with little ggurl while I was on the Pill). Maybe I need to investigate the odds further, although in truth, my options are pretty limited.
Thanks and keep the replies coming, if there are any!
Aahhh - devilsknew, I just read your link. Prior to that, I had totally thought you were referring to the incident last year when I got a shard of cement embedded in my cornea, and the eye doctor had to pick it out with a big needle! I had no idea there was a coincidental link with a SDMB in-joke! How bizarre.
I’m not exactly expecting that this time, but what am I in for?