Introduction

Home insemination is an IVF treatment alternative that many couples are still unaware of, and performing artificial insemination yourself in the comfort of your own home is an easier and much cheaper alternative than IVF treatment.
 
Many couples encounter difficulties getting pregnant due to fertility problems. However, few people are completely infertile, and most couples who need help to make a baby are described as subfertile. This means that one part of their reproductive system may not be working correctly, however IVF treatment is not the only alternative.
 
Artificial insemination (AI) is a means of helping couples to have children if they are unable to conceive through sexual intercourse. Artificial insemination refers to a range of techniques in which the man's sperm is put into the woman's genital tract artificially. Sperm may be placed in the neck of the womb (cervix), known as intracervical insemination, or at the base of the cervix, known as intravaginal insemination or inside the womb itself, known as intrauterine insemination (IUI).  Intravaginal insemination is the method that can be performed at home and the IVF treatment I will be discussing further.
 
If there is a problem with the male partner's sperm, then sperm from a donor may be used. Donor insemination (DI) may also useful for single women and lesbian couples.
 
This website offers the products and advice to help with home insemination - the alternative to IVF treatment.
 
Is home insemination an option for you
Artificial insemination is carried out when the woman is most likely to ovulate. Ovulation is when an egg is released during the menstrual cycle. This is your most fertile time of the month. It usually occurs 14 days before the start of your period and is easier to detect if your periods are regular.
 
Ovulation can also be detected by a half-degree drop in body temperature, and a change in vaginal discharge. However, urine hormone tests are usually carried out to accurately calculate the most suitable time for insemination. This improves the chance of the treatment leading to conception. Ovulation test strips are available from this website.
 
Why it is necessary
Artificial insemination (AI) is a way of helping people to have children who may otherwise be unable to conceive. There are a number of factors that can affect fertility, and AI is better suited to certain problems rather than others. AI may be useful for couples facing the following fertility difficulties:
 
In women:
  • Problems with the cervical mucus - there may not be enough mucus to allow sperm to move easily, or it may be too thick and sticky. Sometimes, the female partner's cervical mucus is not compatible with the male partner's sperm
  • Women with mild endometriosis (a condition in which the lining of the uterus can become attached to organs such as the fallopian tubes, preventing the passage of eggs)
  • Anatomical problems with the uterus or cervix, which prevents sperm finding the egg
 
In men:
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Retrograde ejaculation (the entry of semen into the bladder instead of going out through the urethra during ejaculation)
  • Low sperm count or motility issues
  • Abnormalities of the penis, such as severe hypospadias. This is when the ejaculate appears at the base of the penis instead of the tip. Occasionally, injury to the penis can also prevent normal penetration and ejaculation
  • Impotence that makes sexual intercourse impossible
  • Cancer treatment using chemotherapy or radiotherapy can also make men infertile
 
Results
Artificial insemination is successful in up to 30% of cases however not much research has been done using this method. Successful treatment often depends on what the cause of infertility was.
 
Conception is more likely to occur when the female partner's natural cycle is combined with hormone treatment to stimulate egg release, although this does carry the associated risk of multiple pregnancies.
 
The chance of getting pregnant by artificial insemination is increased if the female partner has healthy fallopian tubes and ovulates regularly. Chances of conceptions are also linked to age - female fertility decreases after the age of 30, until it is has almost gone by the age of 45.
 
For 90% of couples, if treatment is successful, it occurs within the first six cycles of treatment. If conception does not occur by this point, other forms of treatment may be recommended. This may include in-vitro fertilisation (IVF treatment) and gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT).
 
Who can use it
Intra-vaginal insemination can be used for couples who have a physical problem with sperm reaching the correct place.
 
Insemination with sperm from a donor may be used if the male partner has no sperm, very poor sperm, or risks passing on an inherited disease.  Before you accept sperm from a donor he must be screened for hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV.
 
You might want to try to match the characteristics of men who donate sperm with your partner and yourself such as eye colour and hair.
 
Finding a sperm donor is another matter.  The cheapest method is to ask friends and acquaintances, if no success advertise on a free site such as http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/FreeSpermDonors or http://www.rainbownetwork.com or a free local site in your area.
 
Using a sperm donor in your area is much more convenient than if you had to travel, as sperm can only survive a couple of hours outside the human body.
 
Another method is paying a site to find a sperm donor.  There are a lot of choices of sites when you search the internet but that can be quite pricey.  The benefits are that there are available sperm donors already waiting for your requests.  The downside is that you don't know how many times he has already provided his services - unknown half siblings?.
 
Lastly, you can purchase frozen sperm from websites or clinics.  You can also search the internet for these but again, this can be quite pricey.  Sperm is also very fragile and you have to be careful when defrosting the straws and ensure it is inserted as soon as it hits body temperature.

There are 3 types of Artificial Insemination techniques:

1. Vaginal - inserting 'unwashed' sperm directly into the vagina using a syringe or similar
 
2. (ICI) intracervical insemination - using a catheter or similar to place the 'washed' sperm directly into the cervix
 
3. (IUI) intrauterine insemination - using a catheter or similar to place the 'washed' sperm directly into the uterus
 
IUI or ICI should be done by a medical professional, since they introduce substances into the cervix and uterus which could lead to infection if not done in a sterile environment.
 
'Washed' sperm means the sperm is separated from the semen and is not required for home insemination.
 
'Unwashed' sperm should never be inserted directly into the cervix or uterus and therefore you should not attach any other instruments or devices such as a catheter to the syringe to insert the sperm at home.
 
Frozen Sperm
Fresh sperm is recommended either by your husband, partner or donor. If you have chosen to purchase frozen sperm using home insemination, defrost it using the 'fast-thaw' method in a bowl of hot water. The best method is to put the frozen sample or straw in a bowl of water which is 98º fahrenheit or 37º celsius for 30 seconds and then inseminate immediately.
 
It is not possible to freeze sperm in a conventional freezer.

5 Tips on Predicting Ovulation:

Although there are several days of the month in which a woman is fertile, you are most fertile during the days around ovulation.
 
  1. One method is simply counting the days of your menstrual cycle, although this method is often not very reliable. Ovulation generally occurs on day 14 if your cycle is 28 days long.
  2. Another method involves using physical signs such as basal body temperature, cervical position and cervical mucus changes. The body temperature chart is a daily recording of body temperature, which is an indicator of ovulation (body temperature will rise after ovulation) but you will need to purchase a high accuracy thermometer.
  3. After menstruation, the cervix undergoes a series of changes in position and texture. During most of the menstrual cycle, the cervix remains firm, like the tip of the nose, and is positioned low and closed. However, as a woman approaches ovulation, the cervix becomes softer, and rises and opens in response to the high levels of estrogen present at ovulation. These changes, with the production of fertile types of cervical mucus, support the survival and movement of sperm. You can examine your cervix by inserting a clean finger into your vagina.
  4. Cervical mucus monitoring involves examining the mucus that is secreted from the cervix, which enables a woman to tell where she is in her cycle and thereby predict the time of ovulation - see below pages for more detailed information.
  5. Using an ovulation test to predict when you are about to ovulate is also another method. When ovulation is about to occur a hormone is released which is called the Luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and can be detected using an ovulation test. When the test is positive, ovulation will occur over the next 24 to 36 hours.
 
Stages of Cervical Fluid: Post Menses (after period)
Stage 1: Lasting 2 - 3 days CM (cervical mucus) is sticky
Stage 2: Lasting 2 - 4 days: CM is creamy or milky - Beginning of your fertile period
Stage 3: Lasting 1 - 5 days: Egg white Cervical Fluid - very fertile!
Stage 4: Dry, moist or sticky ( Infertile)
 
Peak fertile cervical mucus is thin and stretchy. After ovulation, progesterone abruptly suppresses the peak mucus and the mucus pattern continues with sticky mucus for a day or two, and then returns to dryness.
 
Typically women in their mid twenties have egg white cervical mucus for approximately 5 days, by mid-thirties, only 1-2 days, but this is not the rule. Many women have several days of EWCM late into their thirties.
 
The Cervical Mucus will look and have the consistency of egg whites. It is slippery to the touch and if pulled between the fingertips will stretch 1 - 10 inches.
 
The colour can be clear or iridescent and extremely wet. If your CM has an unusual odour, consult your physician; this may be a sign of infection. If your CM has the consistency of cottage cheese, this may be a sign of a yeast infection, also consult your physician.

Increasing Cervical Mucus
  • Cut back on caffeine and don't smoke!
  • Drinking at least ten 6oz glasses of water a day
  • Evening Primrose Oil: 1,000 IU per day should be taken from Cycle Day 1 to Ovulation
  • Flax Seed Oil: 2,000 mg per day from Ovulation to fertilization
  • Red Raspberry: 1,000 mg daily: Start anytime in cycle
  • Grapefruit Juice
  • Guaifenesin: (cough syrup) 200mg per day from day 5 to day 10 of your menstrual cycle (only use 100% guaifenesin as other ingredients could have the opposite effect)

Boosting Fertility:

If you've been trying to start a family without success, making some simple lifestyle changes may increase your chance of conception and help to ensure a healthy pregnancy. However, there are some factors, such as age, ovulation problems, sperm disorders and damaged fallopian tubes, which you can't change.

Changes you can make
Eat well: if you're a woman, a nutritious, balanced diet will help improve your general health and well-being, and ensure your body is able to nourish a baby. If you're a man, healthy eating is also important for sperm production. Choose a varied diet containing fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, potatoes, rice and other cereals (wholegrain, where possible), low-fat milk and dairy products, lean meat, fish and other sources of protein.
Watch your weight: being overweight or very underweight can disrupt your periods and hinder conception. A woman with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 29 or less than 19 may find it more difficult to conceive. To work out your BMI, divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared (your height in metres multiplied by itself).
Drink wisely: the government advises women trying to conceive to avoid alcohol completely. Men shouldn't drink more than three or four units a day, and should avoid binge drinking to prevent damage to sperm.
Stop smoking: smoking has been linked to infertility and early menopause in women, and sperm problems in men. It also reduces the success of fertility treatments.
Be active: regular moderate exercise (such as brisk walking) for at least 30 minutes a day will help to keep you fit for conception and help to control your weight.
Keep cool: for optimum sperm production, the testicles need to be a couple of degrees cooler than the rest of the body. Avoid tight underwear and jeans, and excessively hot baths and saunas.
Think about your job: occupations that involve sitting for long periods, such as long-distance lorry driving, or exposure to environmental chemicals such as paints or pesticides, may affect sperm quality. If this is an issue, discuss it with your work supervisor.
Manage stress: stress doesn't cause infertility, but excessive anxiety can sometimes upset the menstrual cycle. Try to reduce stress levels and give yourself time to relax.
Take folic acid: all women trying for a baby should take a supplement of 400mcg of folic acid a day to help prevent birth defects such as spina bifida.
Check drugs: certain prescription drugs can reduce the chance of conception. If you're taking regular medication, talk to your doctor.
Marijuana and cocaine can affect sperm counts.

Things you can't change
Not all factors affecting fertility are within your control.
 
Women
For women, the following ovulation problems may affect conception:
 
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in which numerous small cysts develop on the ovaries and ovulation is erratic. Vitex has been proven to help PCOS.
  • The side effects of some medications, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers, chemotherapy and radiation treatment (for example, for cancer).
  • Premature ovarian failure (early menopause).
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Blocked fallopian tubes
  • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and (more rarely) gonorrhoea
  • Endometriosis, in which cells from the lining of the womb implant elsewhere, such as the ovaries
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease, which can be caused by chlamydia and other STIs
  • Previous pelvic surgery - for example, for appendicitis or peritonitis
  • Your age: the quantity and quality of your eggs decline with age. Women in their early 20s are about twice as likely to get pregnant as women in their late 30s.
  • Problems in the womb: problems with the lining of the womb, such as fibroids or physical abnormalities of the womb, can prevent the successful implantation of a fertilised egg.
  • Other medical conditions: conditions that can affect female fertility include diabetes, epilepsy, thyroid and bowel diseases, as well as gynaecological problems such as a previous ectopic pregnancy or more than one miscarriage.

Men
  • Male infertility is usually caused by sperm problems. These include:
  • Low sperm count (not producing enough sperm), poor sperm quality or poor motility (slow-moving sperm).
  • Previous inflammation of, or injury to, the testicles. This includes inflammation caused by mumps, drug treatment, and radiotherapy or sporting injuries.
  • A previous bacterial infection.
  • Previous surgery - for example, to correct a hernia - or undescended or twisted testicles, which can damage the tubes or impair blood flow to the testicles.
  • Diabetes, medication or urinary tract surgery can cause retrograde ejaculation, when sperm travels backwards into the bladder.
  • Sexual problems, such as the inability to have an erection.

If you have concerns on your partner's fertility, it is best to get tested before spending months trying. Affordable tests can be purchased from this website, or done by your local GP.

Instructions for Artificial Self Insemination:

Give the ‘sperm donor’ or your ‘male partner’ a sterile container and ask him to ejaculate into the container by means of masturbation and put the lid on the container before transporting it to yourself.  
 
In preparation for being inseminated, you should get into a comfortable position in bed with your hips raised with a cushion – to assist with the downward direction of the sperm, and relaxed enough to remain in that position for the next 30 minutes.
 
Take a syringe (do not use a needle) or similar device and draw back with the suction once with nothing but air to create a vacuum, then push out, the next time put the point of the syringe into the sperm inside the container (tilted for easier suction) and slowly draw it back with all of the semen.
 
Insert the syringe as far into the vagina as possible, relax and inject slowly. Leave for a few seconds then remove syringe slowly and try not to move for the next 30 minutes while the sperm gets to work in trying to locate the egg.
 
If possible, try stimulating the clitoris before hand and try having an orgasm after the insemination helps even more as the vibrations dip the cervix into the pool of semen.

Final Note

At Insemination Help we are well aware of the difficulties experience by single women, couples and lesbians wanting to conceive.  Our goal is to make this experience stress free with all the necessary equipment, advice and resources needed to make this experience an enjoyable and magical one.  We offer a variety of insemination kits to suit each persons needs and we will provide you with everything you need to conceive in the comfort of your own home once you find a sperm donor.

As someone wanting to artificially inseminate, I found that the market did not cater for me and the equipment and advice needed was not at hand.  Through this website and the products and advice available I aim to make this an easy process for all women wanting to inseminate themselves.

Order your pack today and get started on creating that family you have always dreamed of.

In this website, we invite you to become acquainted with our full range of facilities; we also offer information or insemination using a sperm donor which is included in our packs.

Don't waste time, order today and make that twinkle in your eye a reality!

Ultimate Insemination Kit

£ 20.00 

Everything required to perform the insemination at home for a full month
4 x individually wrapped sterile containers to collect the sperm
4 x individually wrapped sterile syringes to insert the sperm into the vagina
7 x ovulation test strips to detect when ovulation is about to occur
3 x pregnancy tests to confirm conception
1 x digital thermometer and charts to record changes in body temperature
plus all the instructions and information required for home insemination
 

Essential Insemination Kit

£ 20.00 

Products to perform the home insemination plus essential vitamins
2 x individually wrapped sterile containers to collect the sperm
2 x individually wrapped sterile syringes to insert the sperm into the vagina
1 x folic acid (90 tablets)
1 x evening primrose oil (30 tablets)
7 x ovulation test strips to detect when ovulation is about to occur
3 x pregnancy test strips to confirm conception
1 x digital thermometer and charts to record body temperature
plus all instructions and information you require for home insemination
 

Basic Insemination Kit

£ 8.00 

These basic kits comprises what you need to perform the home insemination
2 x individually wrapped sterile syringes
2 x individually wrapped sterile containers
2 x ovulation test strips
2 x pregnancy test strips
 

Combination Insemination Kit

£ 7.00 

These kits combine all the products for insemination for those unsure what is most comfortable.
1 x 10ml individually wrapped sterile syringe
1 x 20ml individually wrapped sterile syringe
1 x 60ml individually wrapped sterile container
1 x 100ml individually wrapped sterile container
1 x individually wrapped instead / soft cup
(soft cups can be filled with sperm and inserted into the vagina to place the sperm at the base of the cervix)
 

Mini Insemination Kit

£ 5.00 

These kits include two single items to perform a home insemination
1 x individually wrapped sterile container
1 x individually wrapped sterile syringe
all information and instructions on home insemination included
 

Large Ovulation Kit

£ 20.00 

These kits focus on predicting the most fertile time for intercourse or insemination by using ovulation tests.  These ovulation test strips test positive when the Lutenizing Hormone (LH) is present in urine.
20 x ovulation test strips
5 x pregnancy test strips
2 x containers
1 x digital thermometer
 

Basic Ovulation Kit

£ 12.00 

These test predict the LH surge in urine samples
20 x ovulation test strips
1 x sterile individually wrapped container
plus all information and instructions on predicting ovulation
 

10ml Syringe

£ 1.00 

These syringes are the most comfortable measuring approx 10cm long and 2cm wide.  The average size of a man's penis. Indivdually wrapped and sterile.
 

20ml Syringe

£ 1.20 

These syringes are larger by width and length than the standard size
 

60ml Container

£ 1.00 

These containers are a perfect size to collection sperm and urine samples.  Wide top makes it easier to deposit than most on the market.  All individually wrapped and sterile.
 

100ml Container

£ 1.20 

These containers are larger and much wider than the 60ml.  All individually wrapped and sterile.
 
 
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