ttc with diva cup

[HobbitMama]

Thanks! Best of luck to you!

[atomic sagebrush]

I've used it for AF too and it's different when you're using it for AF because stuff is coming down and out, not trying to go up and in. Imagine instead if you put it in and some, or all of it spills or it isn't positioned quite right and it isn't getting where it needs to be. All I am trying to express is that after 12 months, something ain't working here. I cannot tell you WHAT that is, I can only speculate about what MAY be.

I agree I think we need more attempts. I also agree his health overall is not helping and so we may need to start to be more proactive about possibly doing things to boost fertility.

[HobbitMama]

I've used it for AF too and it's different when you're using it for AF because stuff is coming down and out, not trying to go up and in. Imagine instead if you put it in and some, or all of it spills or it isn't positioned quite right and it isn't getting where it needs to be. All I am trying to express is that after 12 months, something ain't working here. I cannot tell you WHAT that is, I can only speculate about what MAY be.

I agree I think we need more attempts. I also agree his health overall is not helping and so we may need to start to be more proactive about possibly doing things to boost fertility.

I wish I could get him to take his health more seriously - but his opinion runs along the lines of "well, other people who (X, Y, Z) have still fathered kids, so obviously that's not the problem." He's not big on the personal responsibility thing, unfortunately.

I did finally get him to take Maca and COQ10 (mostly to shut me up, I think, when I kept pointing out that things were not working and I was out of things *I* could do) and I've noticed a marked difference in the quantity of what's in the cup. Unfortunately, that's only been a thing for the last three months. I'm not even sure if I should count the previous ones due to the rather... uninspiring, shall we say... sample he provided previously. (On the other hand, darn it, I had to go through the emotional roller coaster all those months, so it feels like it OUGHT to count!)

If I do go the syringe route, how do I make sure I'm not shooting it at the wrong angle?

[maidentomother]

You can really only shoot it at one angle once it's deep inside you. The sperm will swim to where they need to be anyway, just get it in deep. I think the butt up position helps though.

My donor also produces pathetic amounts, like 1-1.5ml, sometimes even under 1ml! Msybe I should get him on those supps your DH takes.

[atomic sagebrush]

I wish I could get him to take his health more seriously - but his opinion runs along the lines of "well, other people who (X, Y, Z) have still fathered kids, so obviously that's not the problem." He's not big on the personal responsibility thing, unfortunately.

I did finally get him to take Maca and COQ10 (mostly to shut me up, I think, when I kept pointing out that things were not working and I was out of things *I* could do) and I've noticed a marked difference in the quantity of what's in the cup. Unfortunately, that's only been a thing for the last three months. I'm not even sure if I should count the previous ones due to the rather... uninspiring, shall we say... sample he provided previously. (On the other hand, darn it, I had to go through the emotional roller coaster all those months, so it feels like it OUGHT to count!)

If I do go the syringe route, how do I make sure I'm not shooting it at the wrong angle?

I think a lot of guys are that way. But, it is what it is and we can work around it.

I am starting to get more of a handle on what is going on here and if part of this is because the sample is really small, then yeah I can totally see why the syringe idea lacks appeal. Makes more sense to use a Diva if it's just a little batch. The good news is, that semen amount doesn't always equate to number of swimmers and it's possible to have a small batch that is chock full o goodness. The attempts do count but we'll try to make em count MORE.

I do think it will help to have it thinner and more liquid in any case and I would recommend a rotating combo of pineapple and grapefruit juice (like one or the other every day) and also guanefesin for him starting 5 days before you expect to O and going through O Day.

Sorry if I already asked this but are you guys doing anything like frequency patterns or hot baths, tighty whiteys, etc?? If so we need to lose those things and if you can get him to release regularly like every 2-4 days or so, I think that may really help.

[HobbitMama]

I think a lot of guys are that way. But, it is what it is and we can work around it.

I am starting to get more of a handle on what is going on here and if part of this is because the sample is really small, then yeah I can totally see why the syringe idea lacks appeal. Makes more sense to use a Diva if it's just a little batch. The good news is, that semen amount doesn't always equate to number of swimmers and it's possible to have a small batch that is chock full o goodness. The attempts do count but we'll try to make em count MORE.

I do think it will help to have it thinner and more liquid in any case and I would recommend a rotating combo of pineapple and grapefruit juice (like one or the other every day) and also guanefesin for him starting 5 days before you expect to O and going through O Day.

Sorry if I already asked this but are you guys doing anything like frequency patterns or hot baths, tighty whiteys, etc?? If so we need to lose those things and if you can get him to release regularly like every 2-4 days or so, I think that may really help.

DH's favorite quote when he'd produce an uninspiring sample was "I looked online, and it's cloudy, so that means it's super-concentrated!!" (Funny, I looked online, and there's no way to tell unless you get SA done...)

He adores grapefruit juice, so that should be easy! He won't take OTC meds, though, so I doubt I'll talk him into that one. Is there such a thing as too much for the grapefruit juice? Moderation isn't his strong suit, and I don't want him to decide to down a whole big can every day and mess things up in a different way.

No hot baths, though he won't do boxers. I suspect he releases fairly frequently given the size of his "adult library" but I'm not monitoring it.

I did use some pre-seed this month out of desperation.

Thank you so much for the advice. You are a god/dess-send.

[maidentomother]

I am very sure my donor isn't releasing more than he says and even after 3 days of no releasing he produces just over 1ml. Just FWIW. He also is not in the greatest health (hypothyroid/Hashimoto's).

[atomic sagebrush]

Even if he's just drinking more fluids that may help anyway. The thing to be aware of with the grapefruit juice is that it can interact with medications so if he's on any, he may need to space it out. I think 2 12-16 oz glasses will be enough and if he wants to throw some pineapple in there as well, even better.

You can use the guanefesin yourself, it may make more CM for you and help the little tiny troops to find their way where they are supposed to be. This is a blue sway tactic BUT I think we need a little bit of assistance from above (literally in this case) I think that may actually help more than the Preseed, I'd probably give it a couple months without the Preseed but with the guanefesin for you, and who knows maybe at the last minute he'll choke one down too and it will thin that up some.

You're so welcome, I'm always happy to help a fellow Hobbit.