Anonymous wrote:OK, I have to ask:

why couldn't one of you just have intercourse with your sperm donor? It's free and besides, only takes about two minutes (!) and no equipment needed> I'm serious.

Why don't you rob a bank? It will only take two minutes, and it will solve all your money woes forever, right? I'm serious.

Best of luck!

Getting a doctor involved can help you time everything, so you're not wasting your time. It can also help you identify hormonal issues or other problems that you might not be aware of with a DIY insemination. I'm sure it happens...because there are stories like this out there: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/fashion/My-Husbands-New-Son-Modern-Love.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 "By the grace of the fertility gods, this one donation hit its mark."

But I've never actually heard of it being successful among anyone I know.

Much of the diagnostic testing will be covered by insurance, whether you have infertility coverage or not. I've heard from one woman who is a single mother that she had trouble with her insurance company because they wouldn't cover infertility treatments since she couldn't prove she had been trying for six months without success. Which obviously was impossible for a single woman trying to have a baby on her own, but whatever. Maybe trying DIY insemination for six months with your own donor would count?

A simple unmedicated IUI really isn't that expensive. This is from the CFA cost sheet last year:
$500 for a natural cycle IUI (without ultrasound or bloodwork monitoring.) That includes semen processing.

$1,500 for a Clomid IUI. That includes semen processing, the ultrasound and bloodwork after starting medication, and a pregnancy test. You're on your own for the baseline ultrasound and bloodwork -- but again, your insurance might cover that as regular old diagnostic testing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, I have to ask:

why couldn't one of you just have intercourse with your sperm donor? It's free and besides, only takes about two minutes (!) and no equipment needed> I'm serious.

This is the most ignorant question ever.

+1000

+10000, holy sh*t.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, I have to ask:

why couldn't one of you just have intercourse with your sperm donor? It's free and besides, only takes about two minutes (!) and no equipment needed> I'm serious.

This is the most ignorant question ever.

+1000

Anonymous wrote:don't know what state you're in, but I'd definitely suggest consulting a lawyer. You don't want the donor coming back and asking for visitation like happened to this couple: http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2015/02/nj_gay_couple_in_custody_battle_with_sperm_donor.html

Agreed. This story too: http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/23/justice/kansas-sperm-donation/

Having a doctor involved protects both the couple and the donor. The couple had paperwork in both cases saying the donor relinquished rights, but it was overruled.

Anonymous wrote:OK, I have to ask:

why couldn't one of you just have intercourse with your sperm donor? It's free and besides, only takes about two minutes (!) and no equipment needed> I'm serious.

wouldn't he have to bang both because they usually leave it up to chance

Anonymous wrote:OK, I have to ask:

why couldn't one of you just have intercourse with your sperm donor? It's free and besides, only takes about two minutes (!) and no equipment needed> I'm serious.

This is the most ignorant question ever.

OK, I have to ask:

why couldn't one of you just have intercourse with your sperm donor? It's free and besides, only takes about two minutes (!) and no equipment needed> I'm serious.

don't know what state you're in, but I'd definitely suggest consulting a lawyer. You don't want the donor coming back and asking for visitation like happened to this couple: http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2015/02/nj_gay_couple_in_custody_battle_with_sperm_donor.html

Anonymous wrote:IUIs aren't very expensive, in the greater scheme of things.

We may try that if the IUI doesn't work. The procedure itself may not be that expensive but cleaning our donors sperm has a cost as well.

With known donor, I'd do it again and again and again at home. Soft cup works easily, once you've gotten the insertion part down. I'd be doing OPKs and as many "tries" per cycle as you could get in. One immediately after positive OPK and another 24ish hours later. Fresh sperm last so much longer than washed and frozen sperm.

If you're using frozen, donor sperm, like we did, I'd go for the IUI. The costs are just too high to not have all the information and help.

Good luck!

IUIs aren't very expensive, in the greater scheme of things.

Friend of mine did it at home with a syringe (supplied by a doctor-friend). She got pregnant on the first try.

Well, really anyone attempting an IVI?

We are using a known donor, so as of now the cheapest method is IVI. We know many couples (straight and gay) who have had success with an at home IVI, although it took a few cycles for most to master the procedure.

I think we are going to try using the soft cups, or maybe use both a syringe and the soft cup. I think we are pretty prepared on what to do, but I'd like more feedback. We are using a known donor and from what I've read the best way for at home inseminations is to have him use preseed as a lube ejaculate into the soft cup.

I know I shouldn't expect immediate results and I think we are going to try for a year before we think about an IUI, but I'm starting to get nervous and second guess myself.

I would love to hear stores from anyone who has used the same method.