The Home Version

Edited in 2008 to say this: somehow this post comes up when folks are looking for info on doing an IUI at home. Sorry, folks, that's not what we did here, I don't have any info for you, nor do I think doing an IUI at home is the most sterile idea. The IVP has some info, please take a look there or ask your doctor. *****

Though mucho research suggests that inseminating at home (via ICI, Not IUI) has a lower effectiveness rate than doing it via IUI (though I don't think there's much info on home IUI vs. office IUI, which is not unlike SpIUI vs. SpIUI for all you madd magazine fans out there), I will say this.

Doing this at home (again, ICI, not IUI which we did NOT do) is a hell of a lot more relaxing than rushing to a clinic an hour away then getting poked and prodded (painfully) by someone you don't know. Especially when that poking and that prodding costs about $600. Out of pocket, because as lesbeeans, we're technically not infertile so my insurance doesn't cover it. I know, nice.

It's hard to top the thrill of pulling specimens out of your very own rented nitrogen tank, watching the hissing smoke rise out like the precursor to lava, then watching your girlfriend panic because we didn't have any insulated gloves to handle the very cold swimmers with (it turns out that 2 pairs of underwear will do just fine).

In the end, it was super mellow and filled with laughter. You know, the way I imagine a lot people try to make their babies. Even though the success rates are lower, I think we'll stick with this way because it was a whole lot more fun.