It’s hard. You had hope again. Hope is the hardest thing to find on the journey of infertility. Yet you faced it all. The anticipation. Anxiety. Worry. Fear. You faced your fears. You were brave and courageous. You tried something new with that precious glimmer of hope.
Then you realize cycle day 1 is back, and all of that hope is just … gone.
As Brené Brown taught me, you can have courage or comfort, but not both at the same time. When you face the fear and anxiety and do something courageous, you want it to pay off. Otherwise, why be courageous in the first place?
Now you’re facing another cycle that feels impossible to go through again. More anxiety. More waiting. More trying. More anticipation. You might feel defeated, angry, or question why this isn’t easier for you when it seems so easy for everyone else.
Take a breath and give yourself a moment to feel all of these feelings.
When you’re ready, we can help you look at your options. And because I’m a scientist, let’s analyze data and eliminate variables to help this be a month of trying and learning, not trying and failing.
Dial in Your Cycle Tracking
First, how confident are you in knowing when you ovulate? If you started trying to conceive with zero idea how to track your cycle accurately and now feel like you have a tiny idea but not really, then same. Except I had a PhD in biology and thought I should know this. Nope. No one does, and that’s ok.
Here’s a breakdown of the ideal strategy:
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Get an ovulation journal that tracks your LH test results, the cycle day, and symptoms.
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Track LH levels early and multiple times a day to identify your LH peak, which can occur and fluctuate within 12 hours. If you test only once a day, you may miss your peak.
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Identify the LH peak - then your fertile window—the LH peak tells your body to release the egg approximately 18-30 hours after the peak. Once the egg is released, it will be viable for 24 hours. That is the best time for sperm to meet the egg.
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Use an ICI kit with three sets of needleless syringes and collection cups to cover your entire fertile window, the night of your LH peak, then the next two nights.
While it would be simpler if our bodies were absolutely consistent, most of us are far from “regular” (whatever that means). Plus, there are many factors that can cause ovulation to fluctuate from month to month. That’s why you’ll want to record lots of information beyond just dates and times to have a better sense of where you might be.
Use a Sterile Insemination Kit
There are a lot of products on the market, ranging from the cheapest, costing about $30, to an FDA-cleared, sterile kit for just under $200. Are they all way cheaper than IUI and IVF? By at least a decimal place or two, but in that small cost window, there’s a LOT of variance. And you absolutely get what you pay for.
100% Guaranteed Sterile
You’d think this was an industry standard, but as of 2025, there’s only one kit on the market that does it. That means all but one of them is potentially covered in factory dust, dirt, microplastics, and the handprints of everyone who handled it.
When that stuff goes inside of you, it adds foreign bacteria that changes your microbiome. Those bacteria don’t necessarily leave; they can take up inside your body, changing your microbiome, altering the pH, making it hostile for sperm. These changes, called dysbiosis, are the leading cause of unexplained infertility. Not only does this hurt your chances that month, but it can impact future fertility chances.
FDA Cleared
ICI kits are required by law to be FDA-cleared; however, several companies choose to pay fines or try to skate under the radar in order to sell sus and questionable kits at a lower cost. If it doesn’t state that it’s “FDA-cleared,” it isn’t.
Also, steer clear of shady manufacturers who import their products from overseas. Laws vary internationally and can leave you vulnerable to all kinds of loopholes if you’re not careful!
Take a Step in the Right Direction with PherDal
PherDal is the only guaranteed 100% sterile and FDA-cleared kit on the market, and we’ve triple-patented our sterilization process to ensure it remains sterile from the manufacturer all the way to your doorstep. It also offers three separate needleless insemination syringes and cups to cover your entire fertile window. It’s the most trusted insemination kit by both medical professionals and people trying to conceive because it maximizes your odds of conception. As the first-ever PherDal user and a PhD-wielding biologist myself, I’d never settle for anything less.
My infertility journey led me to find a better solution: The PherDal At-Home Insemination Kit. I hope it’ll be the answer for you, too! Whether you’re ready to take a pause or are ready to try again, we’re here for it. We support you - always.
