Beyond the Bedroom: 3 Different Ways to Get Pregnant
Published September 14, 2023.
Pregnancy struggles can be discouraging and devastating. In the US alone, about 1 in 5 women can't get pregnant after a year of trying. While conceiving may often be viewed as an act of intimacy in the bedroom, the truth is there are numerous different ways to get pregnant that women can try.
How to get pregnant can depend on overall health, lifestyle, and age, which can factor into conception troubles. Aside from libido-boosting foods and monitoring your health, fertility issues may require further methods.
So, let's talk about some additional ways that you can get pregnant.
Different Ways to Get Pregnant
- Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART)
- Sperm Donation and Insemination
- Egg Donation and Surrogacy
1. Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)
Assisted Reproductive Technologies include fertility treatments where the eggs and sperm are combined outside of the body in a laboratory setting before implanting the fertilized egg (embryo) in the uterus. ART includes IVF (in vitro fertilization) and IUI (intrauterine insemination).
IVF/IUI are most commonly used in the following cases since they can bypass the elements of these that make conception challenging:
- Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
- Severe endometriosis
- Primary ovarian insufficiency
- Male infertility
Pros
- Can eliminate some conception elements that are challenging due to certain conditions
- Can end in successful pregnancy
Cons
- Expensive
- Time-consuming
- Involve numerous medications and procedures
» Learn how charting your cycle can help you identify early pregnancy concerns
2. Sperm Donation and Insemination
Typically, once the sperm donor has been selected, the insemination procedure involves a medical professional inserting a catheter containing the sperm into the vagina, through the cervical opening and into the uterus.
This may be best for:
- Women under the age of 35 (this is a general recommendation because egg quantity can decrease as we age) with no history of fertility issues
- Women who want to get pregnant without sex or a partner
- Those who don't become pregnant after several cycles, just like what could happen if you were not using a sperm donor, therefore needing additional fertility testing
Pros
- Can conceive without a partner
- Can use alternative sperm if partner's sperm count is low
- More affordable than IVF
Cons
- Added expense when compared to natural conception
- Some sperm banks don't screen for genetic testing
3. Egg Donation and Surrogacy
Egg donation and/or surrogacy can be a viable different way to get pregnant besides via intercourse, as well as for those who have had failed IVF/IUI attempts previously.
Egg donation is where another woman donates her eggs to a woman or couple looking to have a child. The donor's eggs are fertilized with sperm and implanted into the recipient's uterus. The recipient of the fertilized egg can be the woman herself or another woman (surrogate) who carries the pregnancy and delivers the baby.
Egg donation may be a good fit when there are issues with a woman's eggs and she wants to get pregnant. Surrogacy may be a good fit when a woman has healthy eggs but is unable or does not want to carry a pregnancy or for a same-sex male couple who are using a donor egg.
Pros
- Allows childless couples a chance to have children
- Ensure the parents-to-be are involved
- Provides genetic connection to the child
Cons
- Expensive
- Can involve another woman, which not everyone may be comfortable with
» Want to know more? Check out these 10 ways to improve your chances of pregnancy
Take Charge of Your Pregnancy Journey
There are many ways to try and achieve pregnancy. Thinking outside of the box when it comes to all possible ways to get pregnant can help open your mind to options other than just the traditional intimacy in the bedroom scenario.
If you are on the journey of trying to conceive, Tempdrop is a beautiful first step in attempting to do so naturally. It allows you to better understand your cycles, hormones, and fertility, as well as confirm (with cervical mucus) if you are ovulating regularly and if you have an adequate luteal phase for potential implantation.
