[Wallflower]

Has anyone on this board had any success with using instead cups to hold the swimmers close to the cervix? I have had heard stories of this working, and wondered if it might help in the case of low sperm count.

[KMH]

Though MF isn't really an issue for us, I have tried Instead cups just to make sure the swimmers have every opportunity to swim where they are supposed to go. It didn't work for me, but I have heard success stories on other boards. Good luck!

[jewels7]

They worked for us. My DH has low sperm count and the month we used instead cups was the month we got pregant. It took us 18 months and I thought it would never happen. We now have a beautiful little boy named Jadon (20 months). We're trying for #2 and will be using instead cups.

[Wallflower]

Wow, thanks jewels7, that is really encouraging! I ordered some along with my clearblue easy fertility monitor, and they should get here just in time for O time!

[*babylove*]

yeah I have used them time and time. I wonder if i am using it close enough.

[jewels7]

I really do think the instead cups were the reason we got pg that month. (And it was the only month we used them). We did BD a little more that month and used them pretty much every time. DH would insert it for me and I never got out of bed and sleep through the night. It is pretty gross if you think about it. The thing you need to do is make sure you take Acidophilis when you're doing it so you don't get a yeast or bacterial infection. I told my doctor that I was using them and he thought it was okay. Since DH sperm count is pretty low, I think that may be the only way we can conceive. We are on our 2 month trying to conceive #2 and we may try one more month with out them to see what happens but if nothing works this month, we will definitely us them next month. I don't want it to take 18 long months again.

I'm also using the clearblue easy monitor (I didn't with Jadon) . I just used regular OPK. I think the clearblue easy monitor is really going to help. I've only used it for one month, but it says I ovulate early. I have a 28/29 cycle and it said I ovulated around 11/12 which seemed weird. I'm going to start temping so I can tell exactly when I ovulate.

[Wallflower]

Originally Posted by jewels7

I really do think the instead cups were the reason we got pg that month. (And it was the only month we used them). We did BD a little more that month and used them pretty much every time. DH would insert it for me and I never got out of bed and sleep through the night. It is pretty gross if you think about it. The thing you need to do is make sure you take Acidophilis when you're doing it so you don't get a yeast or bacterial infection. I told my doctor that I was using them and he thought it was okay. Since DH sperm count is pretty low, I think that may be the only way we can conceive. We are on our 2 month trying to conceive #2 and we may try one more month with out them to see what happens but if nothing works this month, we will definitely us them next month. I don't want it to take 18 long months again.

I'm also using the clearblue easy monitor (I didn't with Jadon) . I just used regular OPK. I think the clearblue easy monitor is really going to help. I've only used it for one month, but it says I ovulate early. I have a 28/29 cycle and it said I ovulated around 11/12 which seemed weird. I'm going to start temping so I can tell exactly when I ovulate.

Thanks for the tip about acidophilus, that's a great idea! I was a little concerned about the possibility of infection. So you just take it out when you get up the next morning? I was wondering how long you should keep it in for it to be effective.

If you don't mind me asking, how low is your DH's sperm count? I understand if that's too personal, but I was just wondering because my DH's according to the last S/A was only 400,000, although we know that test wasn't very accurate, so we will be doing another one in a few weeks. I wondered if that was too low for the instead cups to work.

[jewels7]

You will leave it in all night and take it out in the morning. I think one night I left it in for 10 hours. That's why you have to make sure to take the acidophilus. I never got any infections btw.

DH's sperm count is 14 mil so it's not extremely low but is considered low. Your DH's sperm is pretty low, but I still think the instead cups will help. You just need to make sure you don't get up and let any drip out. Get your husband to stick in for you. My husband made sure none of it dripped out (sorry tmi). Also, only BD every other night since his sperm is so low. So when you quit bleeding get to it and don't stop until you know you have Ovulated. Remember it only takes one little sperm so it's possible even with 400,000....

I see you're on 16 cd, right?

[Wallflower]

Thanks for the info!! Yes CD 16, and I don't usually O until at least CD 17, usually closer to CD 20. I have been charting this month, but not consistently, I keep forgetting to temp! I am planning on using OPK's starting tomorrow probably to try and pinpoint O.

[jewels7]

Sure! You may already be doing this, but make sure you use preseed too.

[Wallflower]

Oh yes, we use preseed as well. We love it!

[Lisap2008]

we did get pregnant using the instead cup in september of last year. I put it in right after BD and left it in overnight. my Dh's count was 16million.

hope that helps.

Edited to add, we used pasteurized egg whites instead of pre seed. much messier but did the trick.
unfortunately we did M/C and have been unlucky sence.

[Wallflower]

Thanks for the info Lisap2008! I'm so sorry for your loss, but I hope you get that BFP soon!