Home-Insemination: The Motivations and Experiences of Same-sex Couples Who Use Known Sperm Donors and Self-insemination Methods to Conceive in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the motivations and experiences of same-sex couples who used a known donor and self-insemination to conceive outside of the regulated fertility framework in Aotearoa New Zealand (hereafter Aotearoa).

This research aimed to gain an understanding of what the psychosocial and cultural considerations and experiences are for this diverse form of family building. Specifically, what influences decision-making, how donors were chosen and approached, how relationships were constructed, the challenges faced, and the resources and support sought and available. Participants (n =11) were parents of children conceived since the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology [HART] Act (2004) was introduced, meaning, they were not subject to mandatory medical, ethical, or legal procedures implicit within the current clinical assisted fertility setting. Data was collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted with parents. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and a thematic analysis was applied. The main findings include that financial considerations and the desire for agency and non-medicalised methods of family building were key motivations for pursuing home insemination. The preference for a relational process, along with the desire for ongoing personal connections and the building of extended family networks, motivated the use of known donors. The process of donor recruitment was often challenging, and the practicalities of home insemination could be difficult, information was often unavailable or uninformed, and support was commonly lacking or inaccessible. Limitations of this study include potential selection bias and small sample size that may not be representative of the diversity within the target population. Research findings may contribute towards identifying the support required to meet the needs of all stakeholders involved in home insemination with known donors i.e., parents, donors, children, and their families. This may include contributing knowledge towards helping equip counsellors and others to effectively support families built in diverse ways.