Getting pregnant is a of course one of life’s most wonderful events. Indeed, watching ‘bump’ grow bigger every week while doing things like shopping for baby clothes and decorating a nursery is a very special time in anyone’s life. However, it is an unfortunate fact that, whilst conceiving a child is something which many couples find relatively easy to do, there are many for whom getting pregnant is a very difficult dream to realise.
Fertility issues
It is estimated that around 1 in 6 couples in the UK are likely to experience trouble getting pregnant, a good proportion of whom will attribute their difficulties to issues surrounding infertility.
Unsurprisingly, many couples who encounter difficulties of this kind end up turning to artificial insemination. Although most experts agree that the artificial insemination process is best performed in a specialist fertility clinic, it has become increasingly common for women to do it at home instead.
Process overview
Domestic insemination can be performed by anybody with a specially designed artificial insemination kit. Along with syringes and containers for the collection of sperm, these kits often contain speculums and extender tips which enable the captured sperm to be positioned nearer to the cervix, thereby helping to improve the woman’s chances of getting pregnant even more. Home insemination can take several months, or even up to a year to be successful.
Benefits of home insemination
There are many reasons why increasing numbers of women are now opting for home insemination. To be sure, the fact that domestic insemination is less expensive, offers a higher chance of getting pregnant (by using freshly provided sperm), and allows the woman to use a known donor or co-parent gives it great appeal. Moreover, the degree to which a woman’s partner can be involved in the home insemination process can help to make the whole process feel much more intimate, like they really are creating a baby together.
What is the likelihood of success?
This is a difficult question to answer as there are a range of variables which can affect success. It is actually the case that artificial insemination at home is likely to be every bit as effective as ‘natural insemination’ when it is performed correctly. However, performing this process ‘correctly’ means getting the biggest variable of all – timing – pretty much spot on. To be sure, performing the insemination at the right time of the month (ideally just before ovulation) will markedly improve a couple’s chances of achieving home insemination success (an ovulation test can be invaluable in this respect).
Considerations
There are of course a number of important things which couples need to consider before going down this route. For instance, the domestic insemination process carries a higher risk of sexually transmitted infection with it than the services (and frozen sperm) provided by specialist fertility clinics. Couples should also seek guidance from a fertility law specialist before undertaking home insemination as it is vital to have a clear understanding of the legal and parental rights involved beforehand.
