Home insemination is a popular choice for people who can’t conceive through intercourse. It has become so common around the world that it is a multi-billion dollar industry. To achieve pregnancy, semen is placed directly onto the cervix using a syringe or a cervical cap. Recipients can do this procedure on their own in the comfort of their home and on a schedule that suits them.
There are many reasons why someone might choose this option. It is a safe and affordable method for couples who can’t conceive, lesbian couples, or single women who want to be mothers. It tends to be less expensive than other in vitro fertilization options. Here’s how it works for most people who choose this route for their pregnancy journey.
Choosing a Donor
Choosing a donor is often the most exciting part. Nowadays you can choose online from thousands of candidates through an online portal. You can see various physical, mental, and personality characteristics to help make your choice. They also provide genetic backgrounds of all donors so you can get very specific about finding the donor that is right for you. There is no guarantee of how your future child will turn out, since that’s part of the joy of parenting. However, it is fun to find that perfect match.
Making Your Order
Once you have your donor picked out, you can then move on to making your order. It’s not as simple as filling out the form and waiting for your shipment. You will want to time your delivery to when you are ovulating. A nitrogen tank will be included with your shipment for storage, and you can choose how many days of nitrogen storage capacity you want. Some people want more flexibility with sperm storage to give themselves the widest time frame possible to do the procedure. Usually, the best time for insemination is 2 days before your monthly ovulation cycle. If you receive your shipment after that, then it won’t work, since you won’t be able to have enough nitrogen to store for that long.
Your Shipment
When you get your shipment, it will come in the form of an artificial home insemination kit. There will be several components. You will have the stored sperm, a syringe, straws to attach to the syringe, and various items to help keep things clean and sterile. Make sure that everything is included that is listed on your packing sheet. When you have completed the process, you will be asked to send back the tank in which the sperm was stored.
The procedure
At this point, you are ready for insemination. One of the best things about doing it at home is that you can do it on your time and when you are comfortable. There’s no being forced into it by an appointment date, and having to do it in a possibly cold clinical setting. Some couples make an evening out of it by having dinner or doing something special leading up to the procedure.
You first will have to connect the straw containing the sperm to the syringe. Then, lie down on your back using pillows for comfort, and raise your hips. The syringe is then placed inside the vaginal canal as far as it can go. After you have ejected the sperm from the syringe, remain in place for at least a half-hour. Some surveys have shown that having an orgasm shortly after insemination can help with conceiving. The theory is that this helps the cervix pull in more of the sperm. However, these surveys are not scientific and the data remains unclear.
After the Procedure
When it comes to pregnancy, there are unfortunately no guarantees. However, artificial insemination does have a high success rate. You won’t know if your insemination has been successful for at least two weeks. There’s almost no way that you will be able to completely keep your mind off of your possible pregnancy, but do what you can do to alleviate stress and anxiety. Take walks, meditate, or do anything else that you use to settle yourself down. The busier you are, the faster those two weeks will go by. The fact is, if you test too soon, then it will be negative, and you will only have to test later anyway. Be patient, and test no earlier than two weeks. However, if it’s negative for two weeks, then feel free to wait a few more days to try again.
Choosing at home insemination is a comforting and affordable choice for many people who cannot conceive through intercourse. However, you may have some fear and trepidation about the process. However, it is perfectly safe, and has helped millions of people bring children into the world who otherwise might not have had a chance. Don’t let your fear of the unknown or your nervousness stop you from having the family you’ve always wanted.
