For many couples and women, the first step they take towards becoming parents by means of donor sperm is a home insemination. This is often seen as a more convenient and cost-effective way of conceiving, compared to the clinical alternative. Also known as intracervical insemination or “ICI”, this procedure is a viable option for those women who do not have any fertility issues which could hamper their plans. Here, a plastic syringe without a needle is used to place the donor sperm into the vagina. After this, the sperm cells are allowed to travel naturally into the uterus where they may eventually fertilize the egg. Choosing to do an at-home insemination can enable you to set the ambiance you desire in the coziness and secrecy of your own abode. Additionally, you can avoid shelling out additional medical expenses typically associated with fertility treatments done by a medical specialist. Here we offer a brief overview of how to start your journey with home insemination.
A SIMPLE PROCESS
What You Need for Your Home Insemination To select a donor, you can reach out to one of our Client Services Coordinators to get assistance and advice. Seattle Sperm Bank team can provide free email, telephone, and in-person consultations, free photo matching, and friendly advice about donors. Get in touch with us by calling 1-206-588-1484 or emailing CS@seattlespermbank.com. Furthermore, Seattle Sperm Bank staff can guide you through the entire purchase, order, and plan for the storage. Do not hesitate to contact us and we'll be more than happy to help. Once you have settled on a donor, it is essential that you secure a purchase an ample supply of vials. Given that at least one vial is used for each insemination and it usually takes multiple inseminations to conceive, it is wise to have a stockpile of vials ready. It is not unusual for a donor's supply to temporarily be depleted, thus it is best to buy a greater amount of vials when they are available. If you become pregnant while there are still samples in your possession, you can take full advantage of our Buy Back Program. We also have several discount and incentive programsto help make this process more affordable. Once you’ve secured your sperm samples, they can be sent directly to your home, picked up from Seattle Sperm Bank lab in Seattle, or sent to your physician’s clinic for you to pick up. CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN
Create a Plan With Your Health Care Provider We always recommend you consult with a medical professional to discuss your detailed medical questions and help you create a customized care plan.
Beginning your fertility journey with your primary care physician, gynecologist, naturopath, nurse practitioner, or midwife is a great idea. They will be able to assess whether home insemination is a suitable route for you by conducting an initial fertility evaluation, similar to a standard gynecological exam. The evaluation will last around an hour and cover your current and previous medical history, dietary habits, exercise routine, and menstrual cycle patterns. To ensure you are in the best possible health, they may carry out a pap smear, blood and urine tests and thyroid analysis. This will all help to increase the likelihood of you getting pregnant in the shortest time possible. These tests are conducted to assess if it is safe and feasible for you to carry out inseminations at home. Your health and wellbeing are taken into consideration. In order to ship samples to your home, collect them from the lab in Seattle, or if you live in New York, your healthcare provider will need to fill out the Clinical Release Form. Every home insemination purchase comes with a complimentary insemination kit. The kit features a re-usable foam tray for thawing vials in a water bath, two plastic syringes for each vial, sterilization wipes with alcohol, and comprehensive instructions for thawing and use. To gain a better understanding of the process, visit Seattle Sperm Bank videos page for a visual demonstration of this process. If you choose to use a lubricant, which can be helpful when inserting the syringe, be sure it’s fertility-friendly because most lubricants will damage live sperm. ProSeed is a popular brand that can be found at most pharmacies. For more information and guidance, you may want to read Toni Weschler’s Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide To Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health. This highly respected book is recommended by many doctors we work with.
TIMING IS CRITICAL
How to Schedule Your At-Home Insemination
Accurately timing your insemination is a must. This is a very precise process and needs to be aligned with your natural ovulation cycle. The desired outcome is to inseminate within your 12 to 24-hour "fertility window", which usually happens between days 10-15 of your menstrual cycle. Utilizing a home ovulation monitor is suggested to help you recognize your most opportune days for insemination. To increase your chances of success, we recommend you begin practicing this a month or two ahead of your first insemination try. This will give you a better comprehension of your peak ovulation time. HOW THE PROCESS WORKS
How the Home Insemination Process Works When you have your vial(s) at home, take the time to thaw it according to the instructions provided with the kit or view Seattle Sperm Bank demonstration video. Once the sample is ready, relax in an environment of your own making; put on calming music, dim the lights, or do whatever else helps you to be at ease. Now it is time to inseminate within the hour. To do this, lie down on your back, propping your hips up with a pillow or two. Then, either you or your partner can insert the syringe as far as it can go into the vagina, aiming towards the cervix. Gently press the plunger, emptying it completely, and keep it in place for 10-15 seconds before withdrawing it.After the procedure, we recommend that you remain lying down for at least 15-30 minutes to give the sperm an optimal chance of reaching the egg. Depending on when you are ovulating, you may choose to inseminate once, or repeat the process two or three times during your fertile window. It is important to keep in mind that it may take five cycles for most women to get pregnant, so don’t be disheartened if you are not successful on your first or second attempt. We at Seattle Sperm Bank are here to support you and wish you the best of luck as you journey towards parenthood. Disclaimer
The medical information in this article is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. Seattle Sperm Bank expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this article. Seattle Sperm Bank does not endorse specifically any test, treatment, or procedure mentioned on the site.