How To Use A Turkey Baster

This article was medically reviewed pastSarah Marsh, RN, CNM, MSN, MPH .

Infertility and obstacles to insemination are not a new miracle. People have been looking for means to better their chances of getting pregnant for centuries. You might take heard of the oldest technique to assistance people excogitate referred to as the "turkey baster method". We're going to explain - what it is, how it works, and who should endeavour information technology.

What is the turkey baster method?

The "turkey baster method" is a form of artificial insemination, or as doctors telephone call it, intracervical insemination. Intracervical Insemination (ICI) is when sperm is delivered direct into a woman's reproductive tract, right at or near the cervical opening – which is the doorway to the uterus.

This method is functionally the same equally male/female intercourse – except instead of using a penis to inseminate, you employ a syringe or turkey baster to inseminate.

Who unremarkably tries the turkey baster method?

The "turkey baster method" can be a sensible option for many people. Generally speaking it makes sense when insemination through intercourse between a man and a woman either isn't working or is simply not an option.

Here's a list of scenarios where people may opt to endeavour this form of home insemination:

Couples that want an at-domicile option they can endeavour earlier facing expensive clinical procedures like IUI, with no guarantees. This can include couples with Unexplained Infertility.
Heterosexual couples who've become frustrated trying to excogitate through sexual intercourse and want a interruption from the pressure.
Aforementioned sex activity couples ready to showtime their family unit.
People who are ready to get a parent without a partner. This includes single mothers past choice (SMC'due south) or solo parents.
Those dealing with vaginismus or vulvodynia, who find intercourse to exist painful or uncomfortable.
Those who feel erectile dysfunction or functioning feet due to psychological pressure.
People ready to co-parent together but not interested in sex with each other.
People who opt for either frozen sperm or sperm from a known donor.
Couples who confront concrete disabilities or are differently abled. (In these situations, the male must be able to achieve orgasm and/or it must be prophylactic for the female to exist pregnant).

Artificial Insemination at abode tin can be helpful for people with obstacles not listed above likewise. Prior to beginning your journey to conceive using this method, it is expert to cheque in with your doc to make sure that artificial insemination at dwelling is correct for y'all.

Mosie Infant'south founders, Maureen and Marc Brown struggled to conceive for 2.5 years. They found that failing over and over once more took a toll on their marriage and sex activity life. So, the "turkey baster method" was something they wanted to endeavour, not only to help them conceive, but also to help remove some of the shame, guilt, stress and other complicated feelings that many feel on their journeying to conception.

The turkey baster method or whatever form of at-domicile insemination is only an option to consider for those who accept a salubrious uterus, at least one fallopian tube that is open up, and consistently ovulates.

What do I demand to practice the "turkey baster method"?

The "turkey baster method" also known as intracervical insemination or ICI is the act of placing semen straight at or well-nigh the opening of the cervix. A turkey baster, the one used for cooking, is a large plastic tube attached to a rubber bulb, that'southward made to suck upwardly juices from a pan to pour over meat. While repurposing a turkey baster for insemination is possible,

many prefer to utilize a disposable syringe as they are more often than not easier to work with when it comes to insemination.

The great news is that the almost mutual mode to do an intracervical insemination is in the comfort of your own domicile! Here's what you'll need:

Salubrious sperm specimen . If you're not certain if your partner'due south sperm is healthy, there are at-home kits bachelor to test quality, quantity, and mobility. If you're using donor sperm, sperm banks volition screen, and clarify all sperm samples that they sell. They should have that information bachelor for you to review.
A collection cup – preferably one that has a wide opening, isn't likewise deep, and has a lid in case your sample needs to travel. Continue in mind fresh sperm should ideally exist used within xx minutes of ejaculation just can last for up to one hour.
A disposable syringe to transfer the semen. You may desire to consider using a syringe that's made for at-home insemination purposes - like Mosie . Mosie was designed to fit comfortably within the vagina. It doesn't have a butt at the tip, which can be both uncomfortable and waste a significant amount of semen, And among other thoughtful blueprint elements, information technology has a slit opening that mimics mother nature to create a more gentle passage for the sperm. To learn more take a look here and check out an encouraging clinical written report on "trying" with Mosie specifically here. The written report reveals, amid other things, that pregnancy rates with Mosie are comparable to the pregnancy rates of both intercourse and intrauterine insemination (IUI) pregnancy rates.

How exercise I do information technology?

Timing is crucial when it comes to insemination and conception. It all starts with understanding your ovulation cycle – which yous can learn how to do here.

When it'southward your prime time for conception, you'll want to take all of your tools gear up to become – and a identify where you tin can get horizontal for a bit, like your bed. Then there are just three simple steps:

Collect the sample, or follow these steps on how to set up your donor sample.
Transfer the sample into the syringe.
Insert the semen-filled syringe into the vagina, merely like you lot would a tampon. And so push the plunger to release the sample, and remove the syringe.
Kick back and relax – for 15 to xxx minutes. It also helps to prop up your hips under a pillow. Don't worry if some of the sample however slides out, that's totally fine (gravity plays a significant role and remember - it simply takes ane)!

Check out our detailed instructions and tips to maximize your success hither at mosiebaby.com.

Is the "Turkey Baster" method safe for conceiving?

We can't tell you well-nigh the risks or prophylactic of using any other tool for insemination. However, we tin tell you lot that this class of insemination has been safely washed by thousands in the Mosie community.

When designing Mosie we consulted with a fertility specialist on getting the size right for most vaginas– which is about the size of a tampon. Nosotros besides brought in a quality and regulatory specialist to ensure all of the materials were rubber.

Mosie does not include any prescription drugs or medicines that could cause side effects. Mosie syringes are BPA, DEHP, latex-free, non-toxic, and non-pyrogenic- and they're assembled in a medically licensed clean room in the The states.

All of this being said though, risk of infection is one reason Mosie syringes are single use. We practise non recommend reuse for several reasons. Mosie, similar any syringe, is made of moving parts that may get compromised, after even a single use. The rubber stopper specifically (on any syringe) loosens afterward each employ and will somewhen become unreliable. The stopper on Mosie (and most syringes) is also very lightly coated with a medically safe lubricant to ensure smooth move which volition deteriorate later washing. You will find that Mosie is not alone here, most manufacturers discourage using a syringe multiple times. That's why nosotros include ii Mosie syringes in every kit - considering more tries hateful better odds at conception.

Does the "turkey baster method" work for getting pregnant?

The average success rate reported for intracervical insemination is betwixt x and 15 percent per attempt, and that rate increases with additional tries.

For comparison sake, the average monthly success rate of traditional intercourse is about fifteen to 20 percent - if y'all don't accept whatever medical weather, you're under the historic period of 35, and you're having sexual activity when you're most fertile.

Intracervical insemination (ICI) success rates withMosie specifically are quite favorable at 28.iii% overall according to a recent clinical study which you lot can noticehither. This pregnancy rate is comparable to both intercourse and IUI according to rates reported by theAmerican Pregnancy Association.

No affair what route you choose to try and conceive, there are no guarantees you lot'll exist successful. There are many factors that bear upon your chances, similar your age, if you lot're using fertility medications, or if you have whatever underlying medical weather condition, to name a few.

How does Mosie compare to the turkey baster method?

We retrieve of Mosie as "The Turkey Baster Method Evolved"! We aren't trying to reinvent the wheel, but rather ameliorate upon it. When our founders, Maureen and Marc, were struggling with unexplained infertility, they saw promise in the syringe/turkey baster method from a basic function standpoint. But they plant the options to be severely defective from a blueprint standpoint. The products on the market were all quite uncomfortable and inefficient. Many would leak out semen while nearly all would trap a significant corporeality of sperm in the barrel, that would never go used. While an ordinary syringe may be ideal for some, they wanted a product that was made for its intended purpose, rather than repurposing things from around the house, which they had tried. That's why they decided to design the kickoff syringe specifically for insemination at dwelling house. Later on several prototypes, and with the input from a fertility specialist, Mosie was born! (pun fully intended)

Mosie'south patented design is ideal for your body, without any harsh edges, and so it fits comfortably. Mosie is as well designed to be easy to use - so you won't need any help getting the sperm sample at or near the archway of the cervix. Thankfully, Mosie has worked for a lot of people, including Maureen and Marc – who had the very offset Mosie Baby! You can take a look at the many Mosie "turkey baster method" success stories here.

And please feel free to reach out if we can help answer any questions you may have. We're happy to help support y'all on your journey as all-time we can, no affair what path or method you choose. Our best to yous!

The Turkey Baster Method