Getting pregnant with donor sperm
Donor insemination is used by couples whose partner has a low sperm count, by women who have decided to have a baby without a partner and lesbian couples who need sperm.
Where Can I Buy Sperm to Get Pregnant?
Fertility Clinic
You can purchase sperm from a fertility clinic which will also carry out the IVF procedure. Fertility clinics will give you the option of choosing sperm from a donor with similar hair and eye colour and maybe height, but you will not know anything else about him. The sperm they keep has been thoroughly tested for sexually transmitted diseases, genetic illness and other conditions. The sperm will also be of good quality.
Fertility Clinic on the Internet
You can also purchase sperm from a fertility clinic and they will send it to your home address. Cryos in Denmark has the world’s biggest amount of donors. You choose your donor through the internet and they will post your sperm to you by courier. You can then get a doctor to do the procedure or, you can do it yourself at home.
What About Getting Pregnant with a Sperm Donor at Home ?
A Known Donor is another way to obtain sperm. A known donor can be a friend, or someone you have met through a sperm donor website. This method means that you get to know more about your donor than just his hair and eye colour. You will find out what he is like as a person too.
If you find a donor over the internet, you can still have his sperm tested at home or at a clinic for quality and for health if you choose to do so. If you don’t want to because of the expense, then that’s up to you, but it is advisable to test for certain diseases. Try and get to know as much as you can about the donor before you go ahead. Don’t rush. Spend some time with him, the longer you spend with him, the better you will get to know him.
A known donor will need to supply you with a fresh sperm sample on the day you intend to do the insemination. Unlike a clinic which has frozen sperm which is then thawed. Once you have the sperm, you need to insert it into your vagina as close to your cervix as possible. Afterwards prop your hips up on a pillow and relax for half an hour or so.
Should I Use an Ovulation Calculator ?
If you are going to try and get pregnant through a donor, then it is important to know when you are ovulating so that you are trying at the optimum time. The best way to tell when your ovulating is to use an ovulation calculator. You can do this yourself from home if you have regular periods. All you need to do is make a note on a calendar of the first day of your period. This is the first day of your monthly cycle. Another way to help you know when you are the most fertile is to take your temperature with a basal thermometer every morning.
Make a note of when your period begins again. The day before this is the last day of your cycle. As you normally ovulate in the middle of your cycle, count how many days you had in a full cycle and then half the number to reach the middle. For example, if you have a 30 day cycle the middle of it will be day 15. Your optimum time to introduce your donor semen is 2 days before, so day 13 and 14 and then again on day 15. If you don’t have regular periods then you can buy an ovulation kit online or from your pharmacy and by urinating on a stick, you can tell whether you are ovulating or not.
How About Getting Pregnant Fast ?
Visit your Gynaecologist
Go and see your Gynaecologist for a check- up, he or she can reassure you everything is as it should be and you can ask any questions you might have about becoming pregnant. The doctor will normally check that your ovaries and cervix is healthy by giving you a pelvic exam using a spatula. Just relax, it shouldn’t take too long.
Get Your Donor Tested
for sexually transmitted diseases, genetic conditions and infections like HIV and Hepatitis. You can also have his sperm count tested so that you know that he has healthy sperm and a good sperm count. Sperm that swim in straight line, fast will get you pregnant quicker.
Find Out When You Ovulate
Use an ovulation calculator, or buy an ovulation kit. It is important to know when you ovulate so that you can ask your donor to be ready and you are placing the sperm inside you when you have a better opportunity of becoming pregnant.
Take Your Temperature
Chart your ovulation by taking your temperature every morning, with a basal temperature thermometer and make a note of it on a chart. Your temperature will rise slightly if you are ovulating. This is another method to help you make sure you use your donor sperm at the right time.
Any Getting Pregnant Tips ?
• Try and use your donor sperm when you are ovulating because there are only around 4 or 5 days in the month when you can get pregnant.
• Stop Smoking. Living a healthier lifestyle will mean your body works better and once you are pregnant, smoking can cause health problems for your baby and increase the risk of miscarriage.
• Keep to a healthy weight. If you are overweight, you may be at risk of high blood pressure or diabetes, which can lead to complications in pregnancy.
• Eat well. A healthy diet is better for you and baby!
• Relax and be patient.
You can read more about donor insemination on our website and read about other women’s experiences on the forum.
Responses