can you help???

[Mary]

I about to start a donor insemination program. I am very new to all of this and very scared! I found this site today. Can anyone help?

[alice]

Hi Mary. what is it taht you need help with as I am quite experienced! Ihave had 8 donor IUIs and 3 donor IVFs. Still not pg. My partner is infertile due to having leukiemia as a child. Donor insemination works the same as normal insemination and its teh waiting to see whther or not its worked thats the hard bit. Where are you having treatment? ask away<br>alice xx

[Mary]

Hi Alice<br>I am very happy to hear from you.Are you still having treatment??I feel bad that I am making all this fuss & I have not even not started treatment, yet you have been through all of this...<br>My main concern is - does it hurt? as I have never had it b4.<br>Will be going away on holiday to make mind off it, it was my hubby's idea, when I get back, I will be starting treatment in the US.<br>Talk to u soon,<br>Mary x x x <br><br>

[alice]

Hi mary. Are you actually having IUI or IVF? If you are having IUI this is very straight forward and you don't really feel it at all. It is just the same as having a smear test. they may scan you to find out when you ovulate but that is fine too. Its hard not to worry but you'll be fine. wriet when you get back from holiday. hope you had a good time.

[fiona_lk]

Hi Mary,<br><br>Similar to Alice, I've had 5 donor IUIs plus another 2 with ovulation stimulating drugs. Include my 1 failed ICSI cycle and the fact I've now been down-regging for 7 days on my 2nd ICSI cycle, I feel a bit of a veteran.<br><br>My hubby has normal count but 96% abnormal sperm - but we're using his sperm for the ICSI as even 4% is enough for the few healthy ones needed in an ICSI cycle.<br><br>Anyway, back to what IUI entails - I agree it is fairly straightforward, and much less invasive than IVF/ICSI if you have treatment without drugs. However, on the first two of my IUI cycles the pain was quite excrutiating, and I couldn't walk properly for days. Now the reason I'm sharing this with you is not to scare you (honest), but to share a solution if you experience similar. Apparently my womb is 'bent', to the back if I remember, and the normal syringe wouldn't go through my cervix. So initially, they also clamped open my cervix - it was horrible! But the third time, the doctor decided to use an IVF catheter - the one they use to inject the embryos back and then, as Alice said, it was just like a smear test.<br><br>Just as an aside, I think the people on this site are mainly based in the UK, and although you're very welcome to continue here, you may find that a US site would keep you more in touch with the treatment over there.<br><br>Good luck with everything.<br><br><br>Fiona xx

[alice]

Fiona, I have to agree with the clamp thing. I had it once and it really bloody hurt. I too have a bent uterus and it depends on who did the IUI as to how well it went. some people are just better at it than others. I think that all the hospitals must be the same. Last time I had embies put back they had the same problem and had to change cathaters. All good fun. Anyway, just wanted to say good luck for this time. At least you can use hubbys sperm so perhaps its good that the IUIs didn't work as now you'll have your own baby togetehr. <br>all the best<br>alicexx