We do not provide preconception
consultations. You should consult with a fertility specialist of
your choice who will assist you in developing an insemination plan
and suggest ways to enhance your fertility. We highly recommend
the services of Maia
Midwifery and Preconception both for their holistic approach
to enhancing fertility and their breadth of knowledge in tracking
ovulation.
+ How
do I schedule an insemination appointment?
Call or email us when you get
your period and leave a message with your name, phone number, expected
ovulation date, and your insemination plan (how many
inseminations, how many hours apart). We will call
back to confirm that you're on our calendar. When you are more certain
of your ovulation window, you'll contact the midwife-on-call directly
by cell phone to schedule your appointment(s).
+ How
long does an appointment take?
You
should allow at least 1 hour from the time we arrive. We will usually
complete the insemination within the first half hour, and then you
will need to rest, lying down for at least a half hour before resuming
activity.
+ Should
I have my specimens delivered to your office?
No, you should either have specimens
shipped to your home, or if you are using one of the local sperm
banks, pick them up. It's a good idea to make sure you have your
specimens a day or two before you expect ovulation, just in case
it happens a little early. If your sperm bank does not have weekend
delivery or pick-up hours, it's especially important to get your
specimens on Friday if you think ovulation might happen over the
weekend.
+ What
do I need to have ready before you arrive for the insemination?
You should prepare your environment
in whatever way makes you most comfortable. Relaxing music, items
that symbolize your fertility placed on a bedside table, candles,
etc., are common. In general, you will need a firm pillow to place
under your bottom, a blanket or towel to drape over your lap and
a mirror if you want to look at your cervix. The insemination can
be done in your bed, on the couch, or on the floor (we've even done
them in boats!). You should have your sperm waiting in its storage
receptacle. We will bring all medical supplies with us.
+ Should
I thaw the sperm before you come over?
No, you should wait until we arrive,
as there can be unpredictable factors such as traffic delays or
previous appointments running long that may cause us to be late
for your appointment. If we are running late, we will call to let
you know.
+ Is
intrauterine insemination painful?
An IUI feels much like a PAP
smear. A speculum is used to visualize the cervix and a narrow,
flexible catheter is threaded through its opening (cervical os) to
the top of the uterus, where the washed sperm is deposited,
thereby ensuring that millions of motile sperm can reach the
fallopian tube to potentially fertilize an egg. You may experience slight discomfort, and mild cramping is
not uncommon, but the insemination should not be painful. We use
a gentle technique and we work slowly and patiently with your feedback
to make the insemination as comfortable as possible for you.
+ Can
my partner be involved in the insemination?
Yes, we love to involve partners
to everyone's comfort level. Partners often like to depress the
plunger of the syringe to deposit the sperm into the uterus. Please
let us know how you would like to participate.
+ What
are my chances of becoming pregnant with intrauterine insemination?
Statistics demonstrate an approximate
conception rate of 8% when one IUI is performed per cycle or 13-16%
when two IUIs are performed per cycle.
+ Do
you take insurance?
We do not contract with any
insurance companies. However, we will provide you with a statement
of services provided and fees paid at the time of service, which
you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Many
plans have limited fertility benefits, so check with your insurance
company.
+ What
forms of payment do you accept?
We accept checks, Visa, MasterCard
and cash. Payment is due at the time of service.
+ What
is the best timing for an IUI?
Timing is a very individual
matter, and your best timing may differ from cycle to cycle. Comprehensive
fertility charting should guide you well, and your fertility specialist
will be able to assist you with timing questions. You should also
honor your intuition.
+ I'm
using an ovulation predictor kit (OPK). Once it goes positive, when
should I plan my insemination?
Some women ovulate soon after
their surge is detected and others not for 36 hours or more. For
best timing, OPK results should be interpreted in conjunction with
your other fertility signs. Ask your fertility specialist to review
your charts if you are unsure. We do advise that you test more than
once a day with an OPK when you are approaching your expected ovulation.
If you test at least twice a day, you will have a much clearer idea
of when the LH surge actually begins and you'll be better able to
plan ahead.
+ Should
I do one or two inseminations?
Your plan should be specific
to you and your circumstances. However, we do not recommend doing
only one insemination per cycle if you are using frozen sperm, since
it lives 24 hours or less. We recommend doing at least two inseminations
(two vaginal, one vaginal and one IUI, or two IUI) in order to cover
the entire ovulation window. We find that women get pregnant faster
this way.
+ Do
I need to order washed specimens from the sperm bank, or will raw
ones do?
You should order specimens
that have been washed and are IUI-ready.
+ I
plan to have my IUIs at my doctor's office and would like to use
your services only if my ovulation happens when their office is
closed. Will you accept me as a client?
Yes. We work with many women
who mainly use another provider and use our services in a supplementary
fashion. We offer appointments around the clock, 7 days a week,
including holidays. If you anticipate you may need us one month,
just call to get yourself on our calendar. If you find you don't
need us after all, we'd appreciate an update so we're not waiting
to hear from you.
