Why Choose At Home Insemination?

With an increasing rate of infertility and the changes in family dynamics, It’s become common these days for people to turn to AI; same-sex couples, single women, and heterosexual couples will use AI if they struggle naturally. As a result, at-home insemination has become a popular choice, and below is a list of reasons why.

* Please note that clinics are still very important for those who struggle with infertility due to medical problems. Also, for those that do not have success with trying at home, whether by AI or NI.*

Heterosexual (straight) couples struggling to conceive

It is not uncommon for heterosexual couples to struggle to conceive. in fact 20% struggle when TTC. This could be from a range of struggles including erectile dysfunction, performance anxiety, stress and fertility related conditions. On average, there is a 20% change of conceiving per cycle so generally if you have not been able to conceive naturally within a year, you should seek alternative methods or seek help from a fertility clinic

Sperm Donor Shortage

Many Countries struggle with sperm donor shortage, due to this, the waiting lists can be as long as 2-3 years. Unless, of course, you have your own donor, then there is no waitlist. However, it will take 6 months of testing the sperm and undergoing counseling before he can donate. When we tried to join the list in New Zealand, it was sitting at 22 months, so in 1.5 years, it has increased by 4 months. Due to this, we are seeing a rise in people looking at alternative methods, as many are not able to wait that long to get a donor.

Fertility Clinic Costs

Another thing that put us off the fertility clinic was the high costs. IVF costs about $10,000 all in per cycle, whereas IUI is $1800 per cycle (these figures are for New Zealand back in late 2019). For the average family to afford this is often not possible. 

In many countries it is illegal to pay a private donor for sperm so ensure you check your local laws.

LGBTQ+ discrimination

Through this journey, I have seen a lot of people with genders outside of the typical “male” and “female” and same-sex couples feel more comfortable doing at- home insemination with their donor rather than going through a clinic and dealing with judgment and questioning. I think that clinics are behind in catering to the LGBTQ+ community. Both Fertility Associates and Repromed claim to be LGBTQ+ friendly; however, there is still a sense of discrimination. To get public funding for IVF, you must have tried with a donor privately for 6 months and then had 6 Privately funded AI with the clinics. Straight couples have to be trying “naturally” at home for 1 year. Again this was in New Zealand any may be different per country.

Things to consider before doing artificial insemination

Before embarking on the journey of at-home insemination, several important considerations come into play. Firstly, understanding the process and seeking expert guidance or consulting with a healthcare provider is paramount. It’s crucial to carefully select a sperm donor, whether it’s a known donor or from a sperm bank, and ensure that all necessary health screenings are conducted. Timing, using the right tools and techniques, and tracking fertility indicators are essential for success. Creating a supportive and stress-free environment is also key. Moreover, recognizing that at-home insemination may not guarantee immediate results is important; patience and emotional support are vital. Lastly, having contingency plans in place, such as consulting a fertility specialist, should the need arise, adds another layer of preparedness to this journey. By considering these factors, individuals and couples can embark on at-home insemination with confidence and a well-informed approach.

Methods of conception

There are 3 methods of at-home insemination: 

  • Artificial Insemination with a syringe
  • Natural insemination via sexual intercourse
  • Partial insemination, which is just ejaculation in the vagina. 

You must know that all these methods are just as effective as each other. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise and don’t let a donor pressure you into doing something you are uncomfortable with. If you are considering natural insemination, please make sure you understand the legalities around this method on our legalities page.

Understanding incest when choosing a Donor

A donor with a significant number of children results in a higher chance of incest, which can result in severe genetic abnormalities. The world is small, and it is crucial to understand the risks. The New Zealand clinics have a limit of 7 families per sperm donor, with the Australian clinics having 10 families per donor and only 5 in Western Australia. It is essential to consider donors who stick within these limits to avoid the chance of incest. Pleas e check your local laws.

Donors who do not stick to these guidelines are referred to as serial donors, this is irresponsible donating and can have serious implications with the generations to come.

Understanding the thoughts and feelings of Donor conceived people (DCP)

When undergoing at-home insemination with a donor, the child you produce is known as a DCP. As recipient parents (RP), we must understand them and hear what they have to say so we can make the necessary changes to avoid the common struggles they face. I didn’t even think of this when I was looking to conceive. This only occurred to me when my children were born. This is why I am creating awareness, so no one else has this as an “afterthought.”

I have written a page on this, including the survey results from DCP people. I highly encourage you to check it out here.

Know the legalities

Buying or charging for sperm in New Zealand and Australia is illegal. A donor can charge you to cover his travel costs and that is it. This amount needs to be reasonable and enough only to cover those expenses. Please check the legalities page for more.