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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 (e.g. 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 plastic disposable syringe (without a needle). Our patients find it more convenient to use a disposable plastic pasteur pipette, 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.
© Dr. Aniruddha Malpani and Dr. Anjali Malpani www.drmalpani.com
Credits: How to Have a Baby: Overcoming Infertility