A Solo Mom’s Guide to Conceiving

Stepping Into This Journey

Choosing to become a solo mom is one of the most courageous and self-affirming decisions you can make. It’s not about waiting for the “right time” or the “right partner;” it’s about choosing motherhood on your own terms. And while it can feel exciting, it’s also completely normal to feel overwhelmed about where to start, especially when artificial insemination (AI) becomes part of the plan.

Step 1: Understand Your Fertility and Health

Before you start, it’s essential to understand your current fertility health. Even if you feel healthy, getting some baseline checks will help you make informed decisions.

Book an appointment with your GP or a fertility specialist and discuss:

• Hormone testing: FSH, LH, AMH, and progesterone levels show how your ovaries are functioning. This is especially important if you are over the age of 30 as egg supplies start to decrease.

• Cycle tracking: Timing is everything when TTC, so understanding your natural rhythm helps you know when your fertility window is, and you can plan accordingly

• General health checks: Blood pressure, thyroid, iron, and vitamin D levels can all impact fertility.

If you plan to use a known donor, you should both still screen for STIs and infectious diseases before insemination.

Step 2: Choose Your Donor

Your next big decision is choosing a sperm donor. There are two main routes:

• Known donor: A friend or acquaintance you know personally. This can feel meaningful and connected but requires open communication, legal clarity, and trust.

• Clinic or bank donor: An anonymous donor from a licensed sperm bank. This option usually includes medical and genetic screening.

If you are considering a known donor for home insemination, it’s wise to seek legal advice or put an agreement in writing that clearly defines all aspects. Every country handles donor rights differently, so understanding your local laws will help protect everyone involved.

Read our articles on donors and see our sample contract

Step 3: Learn About Artificial Insemination Options

There are two main ways to perform insemination:

Home Insemination

This involves placing sperm near the cervix using tools such as InsemiAid insemination syringes and sterile collection cups. It’s non-invasive, affordable, and can be done in the comfort of your own home. For many solo moms, this approach feels intimate and empowering.

Clinical Insemination (IUI)

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is performed at a fertility clinic. The sperm is washed and placed directly into the uterus by a professional. It’s more precise but also more costly and clinical.

There’s no wrong choice. Some solo moms start at home and later move to clinical insemination, should the need arise.

Step 4: Track Your Ovulation Accurately

Timing is everything when it comes to conception. To find your fertile window, learn to track ovulation using:

• Ovadetect Ovulation test strips: Detect your LH surge before ovulation.

• Basal body temperature: Confirms ovulation after it occurs.

• Cervical mucus observation: Fertile mucus becomes clear and stretchy like egg whites.

Combining these methods helps you predict the best days to inseminate. Most people inseminate within 24 hours of a positive LH surge for the best chance of success.

Step 5: Prepare Your Body and Space

Small supportive steps can help your body and mind feel ready.

• Take a prenatal supplement rich in folate.

• Eat balanced, nourishing foods.

• Limit caffeine and alcohol.

• Prioritise rest and stress management.

• Create a calm, supportive space for insemination.

This process can sometimes feel clinical, but remember, it’s also sacred. Lighting a candle, playing soft music, before insemination can turn it into a moment of self-connection and intention.

Step 6: Build Your Support Network

Going through conception solo doesn’t mean going through it alone. Surround yourself with people who uplift and understand your choice.

This might include:

• Close friends or family who can provide emotional support.

• Online or local groups for solo moms by choice.

• Professional counsellors who specialise in fertility and family planning.

And of course, the Home Insemination Solutions community exists for exactly this, a place where people at every stage of the journey can learn, connect, and feel supported.

Step 7: Decide When to Start Trying

Once you understand your cycle, have your supplies ready, and feel emotionally prepared, you can plan your first insemination cycle.

Some solo moms conceive in their first few attempts, while others take time, and that’s normal. Success rates for home insemination are similar to natural conception, and persistence truly pays off.

Remember that your donor should abstain from ejaculation 5 days before your fertile window. During your fertile window, don't inseminate more than every 48 hours

Step 8: After Insemination

After insemination, take it easy and care for yourself. Avoid overanalyzing early symptoms, as it can cause unnecessary stress. The two-week wait can be emotionally challenging, so find distractions and keep busy if possible.

If your period doesn’t arrive after 14 days, take a pregnancy test like HCG Sense for confirmation. If it’s positive, contact your doctor to schedule your first blood test or scan.

Choosing solo motherhood through artificial insemination is a bold, loving decision rooted in strength. It’s not the “backup plan”, it’s your plan. Whether you inseminate at home using InsemiAid syringes and OvaDetect strips, or at a clinic with professional support, what matters most is that you’re doing it your way.

Remember: every journey to conception is different, but each one begins with the same thing, hope. You don’t have to do this alone. Our community and tools are here to walk alongside you every step of the way.