Preconception Counseling
Affirming and respectful support
There are so many ways to build a family. Whether you're seeking preconception counseling for donor conception, or conception with a partner's genetic material, you deserve knowledgeable and empathetic support.
I've got you.
In order to meet people’s needs across a variety of circumstances I offer two different types of sessions. Planning Family Sessions are for folks who aren’t ready to start trying yet but want support in decision making especially around donor conception. Fertility Consultations are for people who are ready to start observing their cycles with the intention of trying to conceive at some point.
Planning Family Sessions
These highly customizable, non-clinical sessions are tailored to meet your specific situation. Some common themes include:
- Overview of donor conception and breakdown of individual steps
- Discussion of how to access sperm
- Known donor agreements
- Decision making around who in a partnership should get pregnant and when
- High level description of methods of conception
- Alternatives to pregnancy including adoption, surrogacy and fostering
- Relationship to gender during conception, pregnancy and parenting
Fertility Consultation
Initial Fertility Consultation
In these sessions we dive deep into your health and reproductive history and I offer extensive education on the menstrual cycle, conception, and early pregnancy. These sessions also include:
- Review of any charting you’ve already done
- Thorough explanation of methods of conception including indications, requirements and efficacy of each
- Thorough explanation of fertile signs including how and when to observe for and document them
- Development of a custom plan regarding which fertile signs to track and how to track them
- Discussion of goals, intentions and timeline
Follow-Up Fertility Consultations
After the Initial Fertility Consultation, we’ll continue to follow up as frequently as you need. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and we’ll develop strategies to optimize your chances. These sessions include:
- Review of charting since our last meeting
- Opportunity to process logistical and emotional experience gathering biodata
- Retroactive assessment of ovulation
- Identification of emerging patterns
- Timing for conception attempts in the coming month
- Analysis of the health of the cycle and factors impacting overall health
Preconception lab work is also available for folks in Boston.
Insemination
How does it work?
Once you're ready to start trying, we'll closely observe your fertile signs and perform the insemination when you’re most likely to be ovulating based on the information we gathered during preconception counseling. There are two different types of insemination: Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and Intracervical Insemination (ICI).
Intrauterine Insemination is the best choice for people using cryopreserved sperm from a bank. It involves placing the sperm directly in the uterus by passing a very narrow catheter through the cervix. IUI is performed at home or in an office by a midwife, or in a fertility clinic by a nurse or physician.
Intracervical Insemination on the other hand, has the best chance of success with fresh sperm. Fresh sperm is only available to folks who have a known donor. ICI involves placing the sperm in the vagina and can usually be accomplished by the person or couple themselves, with a little guidance from me if necessary.
During our preconception counseling sessions, we’ll discuss your donor choice and determine which method is right for you. I’ll walk you through the procedure ahead of time so you know exactly what to expect.
Who is it for?
Many queer folks and single parents are great candidates for home insemination. As are folks who are conceiving with donor sperm due to subfertility or infertility impacting their sperm-producing partner. People who have a uterus and are affected by mild subfertility, may benefit from IUI and can absolutely benefit from Preconception Counseling. For partners who have a lower sperm count, we can perform a procedure called "sperm washing" and then do an IUI with that sample. This can significantly increase the chances of conception.
As a midwife, it’s not in my scope of practice to write prescriptions, so for folks who need fertility medications, a fertility clinic is the way to go. In cases of more serious subfertility IVF is usually the most effective method. IVF is an advanced form of reproductive technology performed by a reproductive endocrinologist.
Pricing & Availability
Available remotely
Initial Fertility Consultation: $175 Follow up: $125 Planning Family Session: $75