Self insemination

You will need to make sure that neither you nor your partner has a sexually transmitted infection before trying it.

This is best done when you are ovulating (your fertile period). It is best to try the technique several times during your fertile period. You can find out more about how to know when you are ovulating on the NHS Choices website and find a tool to check your fertile days by putting the words “ovulation calendar” into a search engine on the internet.

1. Your partner will need to ejaculate into a container. The container doesn’t need to be sterile, but it should be clean and dry.
2. Next you’ll need a plastic syringe. Your HIV clinic can provide them, or you can buy the kind used to give medicine to babies at a chemist.
3. Wait up to 30 minutes for the semen to become more liquid.
4. Draw back on the syringe once with nothing but air, then push the air out again. Now point the syringe into the liquid and slowly draw it back to suck in the semen.
5. Get into a comfortable position lying on the bed with your bottom raised on a cushion.
6. Either you or your partner can now slowly insert the syringe as far into the vagina as possible.
7. The area to aim for is high up in the vagina, towards the cervix.
8. Slowly squirt out the contents of the syringe. Gently remove the syringe.
9. Try to remain lying down for the next 30 minutes while the sperm makes its way through the cervix. Some semen may leak out but this is normal, and doesn’t mean it won’t have worked.

An alternative method is for you and your partner to have sex together, using a male condom. After sex, withdraw the penis from the vagina with the condom still on. Then take it off, and use a syringe to transfer the semen to your vagina. If you use this technique, make sure that the condom doesn’t contain a spermicide.

The healthcare team at your clinic will be able to provide syringes and information on how to calculate and recognise when you are ovulating.