Home Insemination

Home insemination is rapidly becoming the popular choice in natural conception practices amongst homosexual and heterosexual partners, as well as single women, throughout the UK.
Using this method, couples are able to locate either an unknown sperm donor or a friend or acquaintance within their own social circles and perform the fertilisation themselves, all from the comfort and privacy of their own home.
The technique has been widely adopted by people in a variety of circumstances, including:

• Those in homosexual relationships, particularly lesbian partnerships.
• Single women who wish to conceive and raise a child independently.
• Heterosexual couples who are unable to conceive together due to fertility complications.

 

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How Does Home Insemination Work?

Home insemination is a non-medical reproductive technique that can help couples who wish to conceive a child to fall pregnant.

The process works by carefully inserting a needleless syringe containing fertile semen into the mother’s vagina, avoiding the need for sexual intercourse. Many women opt for a soft cup or moon cup (a device that they may also use for their periods) to collect the sperm and facilitate insemination.

This option is extremely accessible and affordable to many people. The costs involved in a home insemination scheme are only used to cover procedural equipment and specimen collection.

Drugstores and even some supermarkets sell disposable syringes, as well as many of the other items (listed below) that you will need for the insemination process. If you can’t find them in these places you can buy them online.

Instructions For Conception

If you have already located your sperm donor and would like to learn how you can supplement the home insemination and pregnancy process, please see our four-step guide detailed below.

1. Samples from donors should be collected in a sterilised specimen pot or in a soft cup/moon cup. Employing a disposable syringe, the semen should then be extracted and carefully injected into the receiving vagina, as close as possible to the entrance of to the cervix.
2. It is recommended that attempts are made whilst the female is ovulating.
3. To receive the sperm, the female should lie on her back with her knees and thighs open before the donor’s sperm is injected. This can be carried out by the individual or their partner.
4. To increase the chances of conception, the recipient should then remain in the same position for around 30 minutes. To further improve the odds of becoming pregnant, she can use a pillow to support her hips in a raised up position.

*Please note – Extensive studies have shown that in comparison to pregnancy via sexual intercourse, which has a 30% success rate, home insemination only has 15%; and therefore numerous attempts may have to be made.*

What Do I Need to Perform an At-Home Insemination?

To help you to not forget anything, here is a list of things you will need:

– A sterilized pot (with a lid) to store the donor’s donation
– A needleless syringe (you can buy these in a drugstore)
– Pillows, for comfort and to help the insemination process
– A towel to protect the bed
– Baby wipes or tissues for cleaning
– Things that will help you relax: candles, music, etc.
– If you prefer, a soft cup or moon cup (the same that women use during their periods).
– You can also get an artificial insemination kit that you can buy online. It contains everything that you need for the insemination, including: ovulation strips, female fertility tests, pregnancy tests, syringes, sterile pots, and instructions. Some even include a digital thermometer and a basal temperature chart.

How to Prepare for At-home Insemination?

Before you attempt insemination, you must know exactly the time of the month when you are at your most fertile.

You might need to track your fertility for several months, therefore it’s best that you start doing so at least three months before the insemination.

You can use different kinds of tools to help you to work out when you are ovulating, for instance, an ovulation predictor kit or a basal body temperature thermometer.

It is recommended that you seek advice from your doctor or gynaecologist, to ensure that you are doing the right things to improve your odds of becoming pregnant.

How to Use Donated Sperm?

Once you have found your donor, you must ensure that he has gone through all the medical screening required and that all mandatory paperwork was signed before donation. Read more about how to look for a sperm donor.

You can collect the sperm sample in different ways. However, you should note that, in order to have better results, it’s best to use fresh semen. To ensure freshness, you can arrange with the donor that he provides you with the donation immediately following ejaculation. This may be done in the privacy of your own home or in a hotel room, depending on your preference.

If you don’t want to know the identity of the sperm donor, you might prefer to ask a friend to collect the donation for you.

If you receive shipped fresh sperm it is important that you warm it with your hands for a few minutes before putting it in the syringe, as the sample is stored at a low temperature during transportation, which can make it less effective. If you receive frozen sperm, you must thaw it quite slowly. Ask for advice from a sperm bank or a fertility clinic to be sure that you are doing things correctly. It’s essential that you don’t over warm the sperm as this could cause it damage.

Everyone is different, so it’s important that you choose the arrangement you are most comfortable with.

Artificial Insemination

Unfortunately, home fertilisation cannot always guarantee a successful pregnancy, no matter how many attempts you make.

In this instance, many people instead resort to supervised, artificial insemination at a nearby healthcare facility.

How Does Artificial Insemination Work?

Artificial insemination is an assisted reproductive procedure within a medically professional environment.

Patients will begin by receiving a clinical evaluation, the results of which will determine whether or not an artificial technique is a viable option for conception.

Upon successful examination, participants may then receive a fresh or frozen sample from either an anonymous donor, friend or otherwise. The donated semen will then be placed into the female’s cervix, uterus or fallopian tubes by a trained professional, depending on the techinique chosen.

Please note – In some countries, this practice is only available for married couples or those who have been together for longer than two years.

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