Deep breath.....breath in.....breath out .

I've only just begun trying to monitor myself in the various ways I've read. The problem is that I've started in the middle of my cycle and that is making me crazy. I wish I would have started at least a few days earlier because I think I started after O. I want to TTC in September and I'm doing AI from a Sperm Bank. I've got my cycle on a program call Hormonal Forecaster going back to March, but I wasn't temping or checking CM because, frankly, I didn't know I was going to hear that very loud TICK TOCK and was going to decide to TTC . I'm 41 so I don't want to wait and chart for a couple of months (again: tick tock). The Hormonal Forecaster predicts that I'll O on the 5th, 6th, or 7th and shows a "Pregnancy Advisory" between the 1st and the 9th. The sperm bank would like to have the shipping date a week-two weeks before it's to be shipped. Should I wait to get AF and then order it to get here on the 1st (if AF comes when it's supposed to)? I plan to do OPK from the first on and need to have the here when I see the LH surge (it will remain frozen for at least a week).

I will be shipped 2 samples. Should I do one on the day I get a LH surge? What do you suggest for the 2nd one?

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Tami

Oh okay, so you're doing these by yourself without a doctor's help, is that right? I didn't know you could do that! And you're getting two samples to use in the same cycle? Well, in that case, I would say to do the first one when you get a +OPK, and then the second one the next morning. I'm pretty sure that's what they do when doctors do back to back IUI's, and I think this would be the same concept. I'd probably do them both within 24 hours of each other, so like one in the afternoon/evening of your +OPK, and then the next morning.

So I'm curious...how do they have you do that? You just insert it yourself and just lay back for awhile afterwards? Oh, and do they make sure that both samples come from the same guy or are they just random? I don't know anything about banks, so that's why I'm wondering. Cause say you released two eggs when you O, and then they are fertilized by sperm from two different guys, then you would have twins that were only half siblings! That would be different! Just a thought.

I'd probably go ahead and order it now just to make sure you have it when you need it. Either way, I really hope it works out for you! Good luck!

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Yes, I'm going to try it this way to start. If unsuccessful, then I will probably try IUI.

I was also thinking this way. Thanks for your input.

Basically, yes. They send you a syringe that is used for the insemination.

You choose the donor you'd like from a list that includes descriptions and medical information of the donor and his family. The sperm bank I chose also includes a questionnaire, which you can read, that the donor has filled out about himself. Some sperm banks may have pictures of some of the donors. Some have their baby pic and some even have their current pic.

Once you choose your donor, you call and let them know how many vials you'd like sent. You can purchase vials for future use and you can have vials on hold for a possible future sibling for your baby. There is a limit on how many children each donor can have donated for. Once he's gone, he's gone.

Thank-you for your well-wishes .

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Tami