Preparing for Fertility Treatments When Intercourse Alone Isn’t Working
For anyone on a fertility journey, the challenges can be both emotional and physical. If intercourse hasn’t led to pregnancy, or you're looking to conceive through alternative methods, fertility treatments such as intracervical insemination (ICI) may offer a viable and non-invasive solution. Join us as we explore how to prepare for an ICI treatment, including how OVUM’s Time to Conceive® supplement can support fertility, and how Béa’s ICI treatment can help with conception at home.
What is ICI and How Does It Work?
Intracervical insemination (ICI) involves placing sperm directly near the cervix, allowing natural fertilisation to occur. It is a more accessible option for many couples and individuals, compared to intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilisation (IVF), as it can be done at home using Béa’s ICI kit.
According to Dr. Phoebe, OVUM’s Co-Chief Medical Officer, "ICI is a potential choice for people who want a simpler, less invasive approach to conception. The technique can be performed in the comfort of your own home, giving you more control over your fertility journey."
Why You Might Consider ICI
ICI is suitable for many people struggling to conceive, including:
- Couples with unexplained infertility
- Same-sex female* couples
- Solo parents
- People facing medical conditions that make natural intercourse challenging
Cervical caps including Béa’s device deliver up to 3.23x more sperm to the cervix than sexual intercourse, vaginal straw or syringe insemination (IVI).
If you're considering ICI, it's important to give your body the best chance for success. That’s where preparation comes in.
Preparing Your Body for ICI: Optimising Fertility
Step 1: Nutritional Support with OVUM’s Time to Conceive®
Preconception nutrition plays a critical role in boosting fertility. OVUM’s Time to Conceive® supplement provides a carefully curated blend of nutrients designed to support egg health, hormonal balance, and overall fertility.
Dr. Phoebe’s Top Tip: “Start taking Time to Conceive® at least 3 months before you begin your ICI journey. The key ingredients—like Methylfolate, MicroActive CoQ10®, and Vitamin D—help support cellular energy, egg health, and hormone regulation. This is particularly important for those trying ICI, as the quality of your eggs will play a huge role in your success.”
Key Nutrients:
- Methylfolate: Supports the healthy development of eggs and helps prevent birth defects. We use MTHFR-Friendly Methylfolate in its highest bioavailable active form.
- MicroActive® CoQ10: Boosts energy production in your cells, which is vital for healthy egg maturation. Our patented version is supported by real clinical trials and has been shown to be 3.7 x more absorbable than other CoQ10 products.
- Vitamin D: Helps regulate reproductive hormones (in granulosa cells), supporting a healthy menstrual cycle.
There are 11 highly bioavailable nutrients in the Time to Conceive® supplement, all designed to restore ovulation, improve egg quality and shorten time to pregnancy.
Step 2: Tracking Your Cycle
Timing is key when it comes to ICI. Understanding when you ovulate ensures that sperm is placed at the optimal time for fertilisation. Tools such as basal body temperature (BBT) charts or ovulation prediction kits (OPKs) can help track ovulation.
Sandy the Embryologist’s Top Tip: “We recommend having about 5-10 tests per treatment cycle. Use urine ovulation tests over other forms of ovulation tracking to determine the most accurate information about when ovulation takes place. There is very good clinical evidence that detecting ovulation through urine can increase your chances of getting pregnant.”
The ICI Process with Béa
Béa’s ICI kit is designed to be simple and stress-free for home use. Here’s what you can expect:
- Preparing the Sample: Abstain from sexual activity (including intercourse and masturbation) for 2-7 days before producing a sperm sample.
- Using the Applicator: Béa’s applicator is smooth and easy to insert.The clinical-grade applicator reaches right up the cervix. While additional lubrication isn’t typically needed, if you feel more comfortable using one, make sure it’s sperm-friendly.
- Timing: Make sure to use the applicator just before or during ovulation to maximise your chances of conception.
Fun Tip: “Foreplay can be a great way to get ready for the insemination process. Keeping things light and enjoyable helps reduce stress,” suggests Sandy the Embryologist.
How it works
The cervical cap sits in place for up to an hour and whilst it’s in you can go about your daily routine as normal, a lot of people use this time to indulge in self care.
For optimal results, it can be helpful to perform insemination two days in a row around ovulation, known as a "double insemination." This increases the sperm available for fertilisation. Start the first insemination after a positive ovulation test, then use the second Béa Applicator 18–36 hours later, or the next day. If a second insemination isn't possible the following day, save the second applicator for the next cycle to avoid missing the fertile window.
Sandy the Embryologist’s Top Tip: Grab a book or get your laptop ready with your favourite show, cup of tea and biscuits and let Béa do the work for you.
Combining OVUM and Béa for Enhanced Fertility Success
Using OVUM’s Time to Conceive® supplements in tandem with Béa’s ICI treatment can help improve your chances of conception. We recommend taking the supplement consistently for at least 3 months and using 2 Béa applicators per treatment cycle.
Dr. Phoebe adds, “A holistic approach that combines good nutrition, ovulation tracking, and ICI technology can significantly improve your chances of success. It’s all about optimising your body and timing the insemination perfectly.”
Testing and Emotional Well-being
Once you’ve completed the insemination, waiting for results can feel overwhelming. OVUM’s Early Detection Pregnancy Test can be used up to 5 days before the date of your expected period to minimise your two-week wait.
Emotional Support:
Fertility struggles can take a toll on your mental health, so make sure to take care of your emotional well-being too. OVUM has resources to help, including blogs like our TWW (Two-Week Wait) guide from Alice Rose on navigating the emotional aspects of conception.
Additionally, Béa offers fertility support calls, which can provide a sense of community and comfort during your fertility journey. These calls are a great place to ask questions and feel supported while trying to conceive with users saying “It was really reassuring to be able to ask anonymous questions to fertility experts in a safe environment. It has really helped my anxiety around fertility.”
What to do if you’re thinking about ICI?
We’ve partnered with Béa to bring you this guide as a starting point. If you’re ready to kick off, prepare yourself for your ICI journey by supporting your body with Time to Conceive® and exploring Béa’s easy-to-use ICI kit. You can use the code OVUM15 to get 15% off Béa treatments through their website.
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Shop OVUM’s Time to Conceive® Supplement
- Shop Bea's ICI Treatment Kit and use code OVUM15 to get 15% off.
By preparing both your mind and body, and with the right support from OVUM and Béa, you’ll be giving yourself the best possible chance at conception.
Key Takeaways on ICI
- Intracervical Insemination (ICI) is a Non-Invasive Fertility Treatment Option and a potential choice for people who want a simpler, less invasive approach to conception.
- Cervical caps deliver up to 3.23x more sperm to the cervix than sexual intercourse, vaginal straw or syringe insemination
- OVUM’s Time to Conceive® Supplement Supports Fertility ahead of ICI
- Timing is Key with ICI and tracking ovulation is key to maximise chances of conception
- Béa’s ICI Kit Offers a Convenient At-Home Solution
- Combining OVUM and Béa Products Enhances Fertility Success
- Support Your Emotional and Mental Well-being through using the emotional and wellbeing support offered by both OVUM and Béa to help you through the highs and lows of trying to conceive.
*We may refer to women and people, those whose sex was recorded female or male at birth, and same sex couples or other LGBTQIA+ people. We do this to ensure that everyone is represented and included in the language, and to appreciate that there is a myriad of different sexual orientations, gender identities, family creation pathways and families within the LGBTQIA+ community.
