First I had to fill out a whole history online and then had a call with Dr. Redmond. She explained the whole process and everything that was involved. Luckily for those who live in Ontario, OHIP covers all of it except the sperm itself (which is approximately $2,000 a shot). There is a 15% chance of pregnancy each month you try and 75% of women are preggers within four tries. And apparently this is just how it is for general life! I think that is so crazy as you only hear about how people get pregnant so easily, when in fact they only had a 15% chance that month. For all of those who do get pregnant seemingly without trying – your hubby has some good swimmers and you must have very hospitable lady parts.
It takes around two months before you can actually get inseminated as there are a few things you need to do first:
Step 1: bloodwork. They took 10 vials! Again, OHIP Covers everything except Vitamin D and AMH levels. I am not having AMH checked right now but might in the future if I have any issues (AMH tells how many eggs you have left but based on my age and only wanting one child, Dr. Redmond said not to bother at this time)
Step 2: Vaginal ultrasound
Step 3: Sonohysterogram
Step 4: Counselling appointment (this is only a requirement if you are using a sperm bank I believe) *p.s. she instructed me to refer to them as the donor, not the baby daddy…less fun, more appropriate I suppose…
Once all of that is done, you meet again with the doctor (I have not yet at the time of writing this) and then you have a trial month before your insemination month. The trial month is where you pee on the ovulation sticks until it says you are ovulating, then you go in for a vaginal ultrasound for them to confirm it. Once that is confirmed, you know you can rely on the sticks so the following month when the stick says you have ovulated, the following day you go in to be inseminated! At least this is how I understand it at this time.
If you are going through a sperm bank, there are two that Hannam Fertility will use and it is honestly like dating apps but to the extreme – medical history, family history, what they like to do, if they ever had acne, how hairy they are, shoe size, etc.! Now then, it relies on the donor being honest with their information but still, it is nuts. I have looked at a few but I am just going to wait until I am closer to insemination time.