Fertility issues can make getting pregnant the traditional way (through sex) difficult. Also, some women desire children but don’t have a partner and are not getting any younger. Fortunately, there are now methods through which a woman, whether single, in a same-sex relationship, or having fertility issues, can experience the joys of motherhood.
Here are the proven ways to get pregnant without having sex.
1. In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most well-known types of assisted reproductive technology. It uses a combination of medicines and surgical procedures to help sperm fertilize an egg.
During IVF treatment, you take fertility drugs to stimulate your ovaries to release more eggs. Then, a specialist retrieves the eggs from your ovaries, using an ultrasound-guided needle through your vaginal wall. Once the eggs are retrieved, the specialist incubates them together with sperm from your partner or a donor. One or two healthy embryos are then transferred to your uterus. When you’re discussing the procedure beforehand, you and the specialist will decide together on how many embryos to transfer.
It usually takes several months to complete the entire process. Some people get pregnant on the first try, and others need more than one round of IVF.
ALSO READ: 7 Reasons Why Having Sex During Pregnancy Is Good For Your Health
2. Intracervical Insemination (ICI)
Intracervical insemination (ICI), also called the Turkey Baster Procedure, is a technique of artificial and home insemination that occurs when unwashed sperm is inserted into the vagina close to the cervix.
An insemination syringe is used to collect the sperm, which is then inserted into the vagina of the woman, allowing the sperm to inseminate. This is rather painless, and there is no recovery time as such since this isn’t a medical procedure. Having the pelvic portion tilted upwards for some minutes to stop the sperm from spilling outside is recommended.
Bear in mind that when attempting at-home insemination, there are some very important points to know. Before you go through with it, speak with your doctor to understand safety precautions that you must adhere to, do’s and don’ts, and your chances of conception through this method.
Very few people might be aware of this technique, while numerous others might think of this as a quick and easy method. Mostly adopted by couples of the same gender, this can be compared to artificial insemination.
3. Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a slightly advanced medical technique that is a combination of the turkey baster technique and IVF. This is usually opted for by couples where the male partner’s fertility levels are low or by single women who are fit to have a baby. During ovulation, the egg reaches the uterus, awaiting fertilization by a sperm.
In IUI, the woman chooses the sperm either from a donor or the bank. A medical professional then introduces the sperm right inside the uterus close to the egg using a catheter. The process is similar to that of a Pap smear test. Lying down by tilting the pelvis upwards can help increase the chances of fertilization. Most women feel only minor cramps, and they can resume their usual lives in no time. However, this process might have to be repeated for a bunch of cycles until it is successful.
4. Surrogacy
Surrogacy is an arrangement, often supported by a legal agreement, whereby a woman (the surrogate mother) agrees to bear a child for another person or persons, who will become the child’s parent(s) after birth.
Surrogacy takes place when the sperm of the male and the eggs of the female are combined in a laboratory environment to allow fertilization and the formation of an embryo.
This embryo is then placed in the womb of a willing surrogate, who will carry the baby for the duration of the pregnancy, and then hand it over to the original parents. Surrogacy, of course, is an expensive option with fees and other expenses to be taken into account.