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DIY (do-it-yourself) or self-insemination, is
a method in which the woman (or her partner) inserts semen into
the vagina herself, without medical intervention. This is a useful
technique for couples with sexual dysfunction (eg inability to consummate
the marriage because of impotence or vaginismus); when the husband
cannot perform sexual intercourse for any reason on the fertile
days; or for single women or lesbians
It’s surprisingly easy to learn to do, but
because most women know so little about their own anatomy, most
are very uncomfortable even attempting to try it. This guide should
help you with the basics, but the only way to learn is by doing
it. You can also ask your doctor for help and she may be able to
guide you in the beginning. Some couples may get turned off by the
idea, because it is so “clinical”, with a little bit of
imagination, and your husband’s cooperation, you can make it
fun!
So what do you need ? Very little, really.
The most important ingredient is a freshly
ejaculated semen sample! Ask your husband to ejaculate in a clean
glass or plastic container. Make sure this is wide-mouthed, so it’s
easier for him to aim accurately – you don’t want any
of it to spill out! Sometimes getting a sample can be difficult,
and you may need to seduce your husband! Using a vibrator, or liquid
paraffin as a lubricant, can help enormously. You can also use frozen
semen samples from a sperm bank, after allowing them to thaw at
room temperature.
After the semen sample has liquefied (this takes
about 30 minutes), you are now ready to perform the procedure. Ask
your husband to put on disposable gloves and then suck up the semen
sample into a 10 ml sterile plastic disposable syringe (without
a needle). Our patients find it more convenient to use a sterile
disposable plastic pasteur pipette, which we provide in our Self-Insemination
Kit, but this may be difficult to find. You can even use a turkey
baster, which has become a legendary symbol in the lesbian community,
but the small amount of semen does not require such a large instrument.
The semen now needs to be squirted into your
vagina, and this is the tricky part. You need to lie on a bed, with
your knees and thighs bent, and your knees wide apart, so that your
husband can see your vulva clearly. He then guides the tip of the
syringe into your vagina (he can do this just by feel, by inserting
the left index finger into your vagina, and using this to guide
the syringe which is in his right hand). He can put the syringe
in as deep as he wants – don’t worry - it won’t get
lost. He then plunges the barrel, depositing the semen into the
vagina.
You may find it easier to lie on the edge of
the bed, so that your hips protrude over the edge. Putting a pillow
under your hips can make it easier for your husband to perform the
insemination. You can remain lying on your back for about ten minutes,
after which you can resume normal activity. Some of the semen will
leak out, and this is normal.
While using a speculum is not essential, it can
help, because it makes it easier to inject the semen at the mouth
of the uterus (the cervix). You can use a disposable plastic speculum,
and when you insert the speculum, make sure the blades are closed.
You can slide it in upwards, or else sideways, turning it when it
has been pushed all the way into your vagina. When the handles are
above your pubic bone, squeeze them together, which will open your
vaginal walls. You will hear a click when the speculum is locked
open. If your husband holds a torch, he’ll be able to see your
cervix, which is round and pink with an opening (the os) in the
middle. The mucus may appear as a clear bubble, or a thread like
raw egg-white. You can use a mirror to see what’s going on
for yourself, if you so desire! After the insemination, make sure
that you release the handles and collapse the blades before removing
it from your vagina.
Some women use a cup or cap for self-insemination.
Rubber cervical caps are designed for contraception (hence the name
“cap”) but they can be used for insemination. There is
also a cervical cup especially designed for insemination, which
is slightly larger and more shallow, the name “cup” indicating
that it serves as a semen receptacle. You simply squat down, check
the position of your cervix, and insert the cap containing the semen
in that direction, holding it upright at all times. Check all around
the top of your vagina to make sure that you didn’t miss you
cervix. The cup can be removed after several hours. Take care to
break the suction by hooking a finger over the edge of it before
trying to pull it out.
Timing the procedure is extremely important,
because you need to inseminate during your “fertile period”.
Since you ovulate 14 days before your next period is due, the fertile
time is 14-18 days before your next period is due. Fortunately,
it’s quite easy to determine when you ovulate, and you can
either monitor your cervical mucus, or use an ovulation prediction
kit which is available from our Online Infertility Store.
You should try to inseminate 2-4 times in a month
during your fertile period. You can inseminate daily if you like.
The more inseminations you do in a cycle, the better your chances.
Please have realistic expectations of the chances
of success. The chance of getting pregnant is about 10% per cycle
- and if you are not pregnant in 6 months, you need to go to a doctor
for additional assistance.
You can assemble your own self-insemination kit
and this should contain:
- Semen container (wide-mouthed plastic jar)
- Lubricant (liquid paraffin) to help your husband,
if needed
- Disposable sterile plastic pasteur pipette
or 10 ml plastic syringe (without needle)
- Disposable paper/rubber gloves
Optionals:
- Cervical cap
- Plastic speculum
- Torch
- Mirror
 
If you prefer, you can order a ready-made kit
from our Online Infertility Store.
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