Preconception Care
Holistic preconception care provides knowledge to help you optimize your fertile health and become an expert on your body’s signs of peak fertility. This can help you achieve pregnancy more quickly and easily. It also gives you and your baby the best chances for optimal health and well-being.
During your initial preconception care appointment, we’ll review your medical history and any cycle charts you already have, discuss appropriate laboratory testing, and address your questions and concerns. Together, we’ll create an individualized plan to support your health and fertility goals.
If cycle charting is new to you, I will guide you through it and help you gain confidence in recognizing and interpreting your peak fertility signs. Learning to track more signs than just basal body temperature (BBT) and luteinizing hormone (LH) surge alone, gives the most complete picture of your cycle and the clearest understanding of when conception is most likely. This knowledge can help you make more informed decisions about the timing of intercourse or insemination.
During follow-up appointments, we’ll check on your progress, review new cycle charts and laboratory test results, answer any questions, and adjust your personalized plan as needed.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a relatively simple procedure in which specially prepared (“washed”) sperm is placed directly into the uterus using a small, sterile catheter. A speculum is used to access the cervix, similar to what you may experience during a Pap smear.
If you are ready to grow your family using IUI, you can do so in the comfort of your own home with a specially trained midwife.
Benefits of IUI at home:
- Your IUI provider is on-call for you 24/7
- The insemination process is gentle and respectful
- You have control of the setting and ambience in which your child is conceived
- You can decide who depresses the syringe to release your sample
- Success rates are often higher than IUI performed in a clinic setting
Precise timing is essential with IUI. For greatest success, IUI should take place as close as possible to ovulation—ideally within 6 hours. So before beginning IUI, I recommend investing two to three months in detailed cycle charting. This allows you to learn to clearly identify your “fertile window,” which can significantly increase the speed and ease of getting pregnant with IUI.
Semen samples must first be specially prepared or “washed” before they can be safely utilized for IUI. “Sperm washing” separates the healthy sperm from potentially harmful components in the semen. This reduces the chances of harmful reactions and increases the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy. Different preparation techniques may be appropriate for different donors or samples. Using a properly prepared sample is essential for the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. For these reasons, I do not offer sperm-washing services and do not perform IUI using unwashed fresh semen. I only offer IUI with pre-washed, IUI-ready samples.
As your IUI provider, I am available on-call 24/7 so that you can inseminate as close to ovulation as possible, regardless if it’s on a weekend, a holiday or in the middle of the night. I strive to offer trauma-informed, respectful and empowering IUI care, honoring all bodies and family structures. I require an IUI intake appointment before providing IUI services.
If you’re considering holistic preconception care or at-home IUI and would like to learn more about my services, fees, or the intake process, I invite you to reach out for a free consultation.
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