Fertility and Donor Insemination
Progressive Health Services provides a wide range of options to treat infertility and enhance one's natural fertility. Fertility refers to a female's ability to mature and release healthy eggs and a male's to produce healthy sperm to be able to conceive a child.
One of the unique things about our donor insemination program is that we teach women highly accurate methods of natural fertility detection, sometimes called ovulation detection, mucus detection or fertility awareness, by using a plastic speculum to see the cervix in the back of the vagina. Vaginal self-examination has proven to be invaluable in helping women more precisely detect changes that indicate ovulation. A woman can actually see specific changes in the appearance of the cervix and the cervical secretions when she ovulates. A woman's own body can give very clear indications of when she is ovulating if she learns how to recognize and properly chart the signs. We also teach women correct methods of basal body temperature charting as well as teach self-insemination.
Daily checking and charting of cervical changes throughout the menstrual cycle, in our experience and the experience of our clients, has proven to be far more accurate than so called "ovulation detection kits" that are sold in pharmacies or on line. Many of these kits, such as kits that test or an LH surge using urine, are notoriously inaccurate in some women.
The initial visit also includes a required complete physical examination, Pap smear and a panel of lab tests to rule out obvious health problems before becoming pregnant and nutritional guidelines for a healthy start. Women receive plastic speculums, cycle charts, a copy of the book A New View of a Woman's Body which contains color photos of women's cervixes throughout the menstrual cycle, access to self-insemination tools such as insemination syringes or cervical caps and access to sperm banks. Follow-up donor insemination visits are available to help women to go over cycle chats to help women identify the optimum time to inseminate.
We offer several insemination methods including self-insemination
We teach intra-cervical insemination, or ICI, which can be done as a self-insemination by the woman herself, or with her partner at home. We also perform intrauterine insemination, or IUI, at our office for women who may be having trouble becoming pregnant. Note: Contrary to popular belief, IUI does not necessarily enable women to become pregnant more quickly than ICI done by the woman herself at home.
Our reproductive, fertility and insemination services:
Diaphragm fitting, exam and pap smear (books/charts are sold separately) $160 - $240
Cervical cap fitting, exam and pap smear
(cervical caps are sold separately) $160 - $240
Birth control pill consult, exam and pap smear
(Birth control pills sold separately) $160 - $240
Fertility Awareness/Mucus Detection Method
Exam and pap smear (books/charts are sold separately) $160 - $240
Donor insemination (also called artificial insemination) service
Includes in depth training cycle charting, plastic vaginal speculum, a copy of the book A New View of a Woman's Body, cycle charts, self-insemination tools, a physical examination and lab tests to rule out health problems before becoming pregnant and sperm bank access (does not include cervical cap or sperm):
In-office Intra-Cervical Insemination (ICA): $80 - $120 (sliding scale).
Donor insemination, also called artificial insemination enables women to get pregnant using frozen sperm from a sperm bank, or fresh sperm from a known sperm donor. Thawed frozen sperm from a bank or fresh sperm from a known donor are placed in a woman's vagina around the time of ovulation.
In office Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI): $120 - $160 (sliding scale).
Donor insemination, also called artificial insemination enables women to get pregnant using frozen sperm from a sperm bank, or fresh sperm from a known sperm donor. Thawed frozen sperm from a bank or fresh sperm from a known donor are placed in a woman's uterus around the time of ovulation.
One of the unique things about our donor insemination program is that we teach women highly accurate methods of natural fertility detection, sometimes called ovulation detection, mucus detection or fertility awareness, by using a plastic speculum to see the cervix in the back of the vagina. Vaginal self-examination has proven to be invaluable in helping women more precisely detect changes that indicate ovulation. A woman can actually see specific changes in the appearance of the cervix and the cervical secretions when she ovulates. A woman's own body can give very clear indications of when she is ovulating if she learns how to recognize and properly chart the signs. We also teach women correct methods of basal body temperature charting as well as teach self-insemination.
Daily checking and charting of cervical changes throughout the menstrual cycle, in our experience and the experience of our clients, has proven to be far more accurate than so called "ovulation detection kits" that are sold in pharmacies or on line. Many of these kits, such as kits that test or an LH surge using urine, are notoriously inaccurate in some women.
The initial visit also includes a required complete physical examination, Pap smear and a panel of lab tests to rule out obvious health problems before becoming pregnant and nutritional guidelines for a healthy start. Women receive plastic speculums, cycle charts, a copy of the book A New View of a Woman's Body which contains color photos of women's cervixes throughout the menstrual cycle, access to self-insemination tools such as insemination syringes or cervical caps and access to sperm banks. Follow-up donor insemination visits are available to help women to go over cycle chats to help women identify the optimum time to inseminate.
We offer several insemination methods including self-insemination
We teach intra-cervical insemination, or ICI, which can be done as a self-insemination by the woman herself, or with her partner at home. We also perform intrauterine insemination, or IUI, at our office for women who may be having trouble becoming pregnant. Note: Contrary to popular belief, IUI does not necessarily enable women to become pregnant more quickly than ICI done by the woman herself at home.
Our reproductive, fertility and insemination services:
Diaphragm fitting, exam and pap smear (books/charts are sold separately) $160 - $240
Cervical cap fitting, exam and pap smear
(cervical caps are sold separately) $160 - $240
Birth control pill consult, exam and pap smear
(Birth control pills sold separately) $160 - $240
Fertility Awareness/Mucus Detection Method
Exam and pap smear (books/charts are sold separately) $160 - $240
Donor insemination (also called artificial insemination) service
Includes in depth training cycle charting, plastic vaginal speculum, a copy of the book A New View of a Woman's Body, cycle charts, self-insemination tools, a physical examination and lab tests to rule out health problems before becoming pregnant and sperm bank access (does not include cervical cap or sperm):
- Full package: $460 to $500 (sliding scale).
- If physical exam and lab tests are done elsewhere: $260 to $300 (sliding scale).
- Follow-up visits are based on time spent:
15 minutes $40 - $60
½ hour $80 - $120 (sliding scale).
In-office Intra-Cervical Insemination (ICA): $80 - $120 (sliding scale).
Donor insemination, also called artificial insemination enables women to get pregnant using frozen sperm from a sperm bank, or fresh sperm from a known sperm donor. Thawed frozen sperm from a bank or fresh sperm from a known donor are placed in a woman's vagina around the time of ovulation.
In office Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI): $120 - $160 (sliding scale).
Donor insemination, also called artificial insemination enables women to get pregnant using frozen sperm from a sperm bank, or fresh sperm from a known sperm donor. Thawed frozen sperm from a bank or fresh sperm from a known donor are placed in a woman's uterus around the time of ovulation.
What does "sliding scale" mean? We let you decide where to put your self on the sliding scale based on your ability to pay. As a nonprofit, every time you pay at the top of our scale you help ensure reliable, high quality medical care for others.
What are the causes of infertility?
A growing number of people in the United States are experiencing problems with their fertility, commonly referred to as infertility. There can be a number of reasons for this including:
Why choose Progressive Health for insemination services?
We use only licensed sperm banks
We use a number of licensed sperm banks, which provide a wide range of donors. All banks are required by law to rigorously test donors for HIV, STDs and cannot release sperm until the donor has had negative test results showing no signs of infection at lease 6 months after donating the sperm. Sperm banks also screen for genetic disorders and family history of significant health problems that might be passed on to the child. Some banks have an ID release arrangement with certain donors who are willing to have the child contact them when the child turns 18 years old. Only when the child turns 18 and legally becomes an adult can the child initiate contact. The donor never has no access to information about you or the child. Inseminations can be done at home or in our office.
We offer fertility enhancement services
When women are having trouble getting pregnant they may need some help in encouraging ovulation. Natural methods, such as nutritional programs, vitamins, minerals, acupuncture, herbs, meditation, visualization or energetic work, are often very helpful. Many women are now utilizing natural methods of enhancing fertility before turning to fertility drugs, and with some surprising results.
We offer an ongoing workshop: Lesbians Considering Parenting Workshop
Lesbians Considering Parenting is a monthly workshop which explores parenting issues and options including donor insemination, foster parenting co-parenting, financial concerns, coming out to our children, birth settings and the realities of parenting. This workshop meets every 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm at our office.
A growing number of people in the United States are experiencing problems with their fertility, commonly referred to as infertility. There can be a number of reasons for this including:
- Low sperm count
- Inability of the ovaries to fully mature and release eggs
- Incompatibility between a particular woman's eggs and mans sperm
- Inability of sperm to join with an egg
- Blockages in the egg tubes
- Blockages in the seminal vesicles (tubes connected to the testicles)
Why choose Progressive Health for insemination services?
We use only licensed sperm banks
We use a number of licensed sperm banks, which provide a wide range of donors. All banks are required by law to rigorously test donors for HIV, STDs and cannot release sperm until the donor has had negative test results showing no signs of infection at lease 6 months after donating the sperm. Sperm banks also screen for genetic disorders and family history of significant health problems that might be passed on to the child. Some banks have an ID release arrangement with certain donors who are willing to have the child contact them when the child turns 18 years old. Only when the child turns 18 and legally becomes an adult can the child initiate contact. The donor never has no access to information about you or the child. Inseminations can be done at home or in our office.
- An important note about using a known sperm donor: Some women choose to use someone they know as a sperm donor, such as a friend or partner's relative. In many cased this has worked out well. However, there have been cases where the donor later petitioned for joint custody. In addition, we know of one case where a woman became infected with HIV from insemination with sperm from a donor friend who did not know he had HIV. Sperm banks can provide a significant measure of safety in these.
We offer fertility enhancement services
When women are having trouble getting pregnant they may need some help in encouraging ovulation. Natural methods, such as nutritional programs, vitamins, minerals, acupuncture, herbs, meditation, visualization or energetic work, are often very helpful. Many women are now utilizing natural methods of enhancing fertility before turning to fertility drugs, and with some surprising results.
We offer an ongoing workshop: Lesbians Considering Parenting Workshop
Lesbians Considering Parenting is a monthly workshop which explores parenting issues and options including donor insemination, foster parenting co-parenting, financial concerns, coming out to our children, birth settings and the realities of parenting. This workshop meets every 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm at our office.