At-Home Insemination Guide

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART)range in their scope of processes as well as their cost. For people who do not produce sperm naturally or people who have reproductive challenges, at-home insemination is one of the options they can use to become pregnant. Not only is at-home insemination simple to do, it is also inexpensive compared to other ART therapies. This method of family building relies on a woman’s natural ovulation window in order to work, therefore timing is very crucial to its success. To help you increase your chances of success, we shall be sharing some useful tips in this article. 

What Is At-Home Insemination?

To start off, let us talk about what an at-home insemination is. At-home insemination, also known as artificial insemination is a fertility treatment that requires a person to place sperm into the uterus of the person who will carry the pregnancy to term using a syringe or catheter. The sperm used can be obtained from a known donor or a third party donor. As we mentioned, this has to occur during a person’s ovulation window because during that time, the probability of becoming pregnant is at its highest. 

When this procedure is done at a clinic, a healthcare provider will use a speculum and catheter to deposit the sperm right into the uterus. This mode of insemination is also called intracervical insemination (ICI). When done at home, the sperm are deposited into the vagina using a syringe. This mode of insemination is also known as intravaginal insemination (IVI). While the ICI may seem to get the sperm closer to the egg than the IVI, it is not recommended that those doing this procedure at home try to do it as an ICI.

Success Rates of At-Home Insemination

To start off, the chances of success using at-home insemination is more than 40 percent when attempted more than once. It is important to note that the home setting is not the same as a clinical setting. As such additional factors come into play, influencing how successful an at-home insemination will be. Studies have shown that three or more rounds may be required before a person can become pregnant. In order to improve the chances of success, we have outlined a few things you can do to prepare for and perform the procedure below.  

Increasing Your At-Home Insemination Success Rate

The Timing

You have heard the saying ‘timing is everything’, and in this case it is. Whether a person wants to conceive naturally or through ART, sperm must reach the egg during the ovulation window. It is not possible to tell exactly when the egg is released, which is when the ovulation window opens. In terms of timing, your best bet is to do the at-home insemination procedure the day before ovulation. In a sense, if the sperm get a headstart, they are more likely to get to the egg on time. 

To help with tracking more accurately, one can get an ovulation tracker. The same way an at-home pregnancy measures the amount of  human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the urine, an ovulation tracker measures the amount of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. In the same way hCG levels are higher than normal during pregnancy, LH levels increase as the body gets closer to ovulation. The good news is that the ovulation window lasts for a duration of about two to three days, therefore it is possible for the sperm to get to the egg on time. 

The Kit

It may not be clear from the onset which kit will be the best to use because the market has a wide array of at-home insemination kits. Take your time to select a kit. You could also have a sperm donation agency recommend a kit for you. The next step is to get familiar with the different components of the kit you have acquired. Typically, an at-home insemination kit will have sterilized containers to collect the sperm sample, as well as a soft-tipped syringe. Some kits may have a catheter, and if you are using a donated sperm sample, the kit may already contain the donated sperm in a container.  

The Position

An at-home insemination will take about 30 to 40 minutes, therefore make sure you will not be interrupted during that time. If you can, use the bathroom before you begin. Set up the room in a way that will help you to relax. Once you are settled, you may begin by lying on your side or, on your back, and plac a pillow underneath your hips so that they can be elevated. This position allows gravity to move the sperm deeper into the uterus. It also ensures that the sperm sample does not leak out and get wasted.

Use the catheter or syringe to deposit the sperm into the vagina. As earlier advised, do not try to insert the sperm sample directly into the uterus. Once the sperm has been properly placed in the vagina, remain in the laid back position and rest for another 20 to 30 minutes. This is precautionary, to make sure that the sperm sample does not get wasted accidentally.

Conclusion

Out of all the fertility treatments, at-home insemination is the least expensive and the least invasive. As well, the privacy of doing it at home, and the joy of participating in the fertility treatment, make this a preferred option for many people. It could take a few tries before positive results are seen, but it is still very possible to become pregnant using at-home insemination. If you want to know more about fertility treatments, or would like guidance on yout family building journey,  contact us. Our team of experts are available in our facilities across the country.