Dr. Jennifer Hintzsche, Ph.D.
Common Mistakes Made When Using At Home Insemination Kits
Deciding to start a family is an exciting time in your life. We often head into the journey of trying to conceive, expecting to see that positive pregnancy test within a few months.
Unfortunately, for many women, the pathway to conception is nothing short of a roller coaster. An exhausting ride that takes you through the emotional high and anticipation in the second two weeks of your cycle, followed by the disappointment and feelings of failure as your period arrives and you come to terms with another unsuccessful month.
And as if that wasn't hard enough, women struggling with conception are likely to suffer in silence instead of reaching out for support and assistance.
But there is support, and you have the power to take your fertility into your own hands. At-home insemination kits, when used correctly, can increase your chances of conception and reduce the agonizing helplessness experienced when riding the fertility rollercoaster.
Here, we break down the common mistakes made when using at-home insemination kits so you can give yourself the best chance of success.
1. Cramping Means You've Gone Too Far
The benefit of intracervical insemination (ICI) is that it delivers the sperm directly to the entrance of the cervix, bypassing the vaginal canal. However, when using the syringe in at-home insemination kits, you should never feel pain or go into the cervix. Ever.
Think of the cramping you feel when you get a pap smear. That cramping is your cervix contracting because it's a muscle. So, if you feel a similar sensation or pain, you've gone too far.