The fertility space has grown a lot over the last few years. If you’re looking forward to starting a family, youfinally have a good number of options — both in and out of the doctor’s office — to help you try to conceive.
But when you start considering fertility options, things can get expensive. Even though home insemination kits are more reasonable than some of the other options to try to conceive, you still want to know that you’re making the right choice with your time and money.
When it comes to choosing a home insemination kit, you’re probably wondering, “Is there really a difference between these products?” or “How do I choose the best kit— the one that might finally work?”
In this article, we’re going to break down exactly what you should consider — from the product itself to the company selling it — when you’re choosing a home insemination kit. Don’t worry about checking every single box on this list; just use this as a guide to get the information you need for a quality gut check.
Essentially, we’re going to help you answer three big questions: Was your product designed for insemination? Can you trust the quality and safety? And is the company you’re ordering from trustworthy and supportive?
Let’s dive in.
This might seem basic, but you’ll first want to check whether your kit comes with all the pieces you need. Our fertility specialists recommend trying two times per cycle, so you need the right amount of supplies in your kit. Make sure your home insemination kit is single-use only for safety and efficacy!
To ensure safety and efficacy, the first thing to check for is FDA Clearance. Mosie Baby is the first IVI kit cleared by the FDA for home use and is currently the only FDA cleared kit in retail stores. More on why FDA Clearance matters later in this article, however please note it is now required by the FDA to legally market any home insemination device.
The “turkey baster method” is a thing of the past. We now know that the design of your kit makes a big difference in your chances of conceiving. There are certain things to look for if you want to optimize every possible feature for success.
Length: We’re not trying to be Goldilocks here, but when it comes to syringes, you want something that’s just right. A syringe that's too short may not deliver sperm close enough to their destination, while one that's too long could be uncomfortable and go past your cervix, aiming into your vaginal wall. Your syringe should be about 3.5” long, which is about the average depth of the cervix in the vagina.
Efficiency: Sperm are some of the smallest cells in the human body. Even though there may be a lot of them in your sample, you still want a syringe that maximizes every drop without trapping it in the tip. Look to see where your stopper ends. If there’s a barrel at the end, you’ll be leaving sperm behind.
And speaking of leaving things behind…have you ever noticed how much of your sample is left behind in the collection cup? That’s because most collection cups were made to hold urine. A collection cup with a rounded bottom will help you gather more of your sample in the syringe.
Volume: Bigger is not better. A syringe with a capacity of around five cc is just the right size for home insemination. Not only does this keep the syringe at a comfortable size for insertion, but it helps concentrate your sample.
Opening:Is the syringe opening narrow or wide? A wide opening indicates that the syringe was not designed for semen but instead was designed for vaginal creams. A wide opening is likely to leak sperm or have the sperm drip out of the syringe vs spray upon exit.
Comfort: If the thought of using a standard syringe or literal turkey baster makes you cringe, you aren’t alone. A syringe designed for home insemination will have a rounded tip and no sharp edges for a comfortable and safe vaginal insertion.
Spray: Standard syringes weren’t designed to go the distance. Mosie’s unique slit opening mimics the design of Mother Nature and helps sperm get where they need to go with a deeper and wider spray, and a laminar flow. Round openings provide turbulent flows.
Grip: When you are in position and ready to inseminate, you’ll want to have a device that is easy to handle. Mosie’s wide handles provide a guide for how far to insert and also provide an easier handle for you to hold onto when it matters most.
Lately, there’s been a surge in products claiming to be home insemination kits. While we’d love to say that everyone in the fertility space has your best interests at heart, not all of these products are created equal.
Products that are labeled as true medical devices undergo rigorous testing and cannot make claims about the product without being able to back them up. If a company is claiming that they have a high pregnancy rate, or guaranteed pregnancy, but do not link to anything related to this, that is a big red flag.
Likewise, how the kit is manufactured and assembled is important. Before being individually sealed, high-quality home insemination kits will be assembled in a clean room and only product that passes a set of quality and cleanliness checks will be released into inventory. If you are unsure how the product is manufactured or where it is manufactured, this is a good question to ask the company. The Mosie Baby Kit is manufactured in the United States, in a clean room, with quality checks on every lot.
High-quality home insemination kits should be made of materials that won’t damage the motility of the sperm or irritate the vagina. Call or ask the company if they have conducted any product testing. The Mosie Baby Kit for home insemination has been rigorously tested in third party laboratories for Cytotoxicity, Sensitization, Irritation, Bioburden and a sperm survival test known as HSSA.
Being FDA-cleared means that the manufacturing facility undergoes regular inspections and uses basic safety measures, including material safety checks. Only a few home insemination kits, including Mosie Baby, have achieved FDA clearance. Mosie Baby is only cleared kit available in retail stores and the only kit with a slit opening.
FDA Clearance provides you with additional confidence that the kit you choose has been extensively tested and determined by the FDA to be substantially equivalent to a device used for intrauterine insemination (IUI).
FDA Clearance is now the requirement for all devices for at-home insemination. The kits you are choosing from require high standards for safety and efficacy, and the only way to ensure that is to check for FDA Clearance. Some of the tests mentioned above including bioburden and sperm survival are required to gain FDA clearance - so looking for this stamp of approval is the way to go!
You can look up your product in the FDA's Universal Licensing System (FURLS) to find out if it’s registered. You can also ask the company if they are in compliance with the FDA.
The FDA recently released a safety communication about potential risks with plastic syringes made in China. To ensure quality, we make all Mosie Baby Kits in the USA. If you are not using Mosie, double check that your insemination kit is made in the USA. This should be stated on the outside of the box and on their website.
Check to see if your product is registered as a vaginal applicator or a syringe. Actual home insemination syringes are made using custom molds in smaller batches and are designed for insemination. Some kits on the market are priced as much as a high-quality insemination kit, but are using cheaper, mass-produced vaginal applicators that can be purchased directly from overseas suppliers on Alibaba.com. If a company is using a syringe designed to transfer vaginal creams for home insemination, that is a good indicator they are out of compliance with regulations. If your kit is FDA cleared, you don’t have to worry about this! As the FDA will have cleared the kit for home insemination specifically.
Ever noticed a series of letters or numbers on a product’s packaging? That's a lot code, and it’s your key to tracking a product’s history. This unique number is important if there’s ever a recall, a quality or warranty claim, or the manufacturer needs to trace any issues. Homemade or home-packed products won’t have a lot code, which is a consumer safety concern. So take a quick look for those numbers before you use your kit. On the Mosie Baby Kit, you can find your lot code on the white sticker on the bottom of each kit.
Expiration dates are important when it comes to medical devices. A product being used past its expiration date can affect effectiveness, safety, and quality. Most home insemination kits use plastic syringes and cups. Over time, the plastics and rubbers in these products can break down, compromising their effectiveness.
Make sure your kit has an expiration date and you’re inside that window of time.
There are so many unknowns when it comes to fertility struggles — and many companies that promise to help. But how do you know who you can trust? A trustworthy company shouldn’t just be there to sell you a product. They should be there to support you on your journey.
When a company takes the time to have medical professionals review a product, you know you’re on the right track. Medical reviews mean that doctors and experts have checked out how well a product works. If you can’t find medical reviews on their website, call the company and ask for them — they’ll be happy to share.
User reviews are a bit harder to trust these days, but they’re still a good way to learn about the company you’re buying your kit from. Are people sharing positive experiences? Are there success stories that are similar to your situation? Are there negative reviews, and how does the company handle them? Think about whether you trust these reviews and whether they help you feel confident in this product. As you might have seen, some review platforms will verify customers, which is a great way to feel more confident about the trustworthiness of your kit’s maker. Additionally, you can check to see if reviews are from “verified customers” or if they have been collected in part of a paid collaboration (who may or may not have actually used the product).
A genuine company doesn’t just sell you a product; they educate you on the entire process. Look for a company that offers resources, guides, or videos on fertility and the science behind their products. Be sure to look for blog articles that were reviewed or written by medical doctors or nurses with expertise specifically in fertility. Things to look out for are if the article was written or reviewed by someone with a PhD in an unrelated subject matter. The title of “Dr.” does not always indicate that person has an MD.
It’s normal to have questions and concerns during this process. That’s why you want to choose a product from a company that offers reliable customer support. Can you easily reach out and get your questions answered? Is there a human at the other end who understands what you're going through?
Prompt, empathetic customer service isn't just a perk; it's essential to your confidence and ease with pursuing home insemination. So, don't hesitate to test the waters—send them a message or call them. How they respond will tell you a lot about the kind of support you can expect throughout your journey. You can also check to see if the company has an address, email, and phone number on their website and box. This information is required by the Federal Trade Commission and the FDA to protect consumers.
It’s hard to believe, but just a few years ago, when we started Mosie Baby in 2015, there were no home insemination kits on the market. As we looked into alternative ways to conceive, our only affordable option was pretty close to the real “turkey baster method” — and just as uncomfortable as you’d imagine.
Our team has spent years designing the pieces in our kit specifically for home insemination. What we’ve learned along the way is that one seemingly small change can make a big difference.
That’s why, as we see more companies releasing products that weren’t specifically created with baby-making oryou in mind, we want to share what we know. We’ve been where you are and know how overwhelming it can be to wade through a sea of products and opinions.
We’re so thankful our community has options we didn’t have when something that was supposed to be fun started to feel like a chore. Everyone should have the opportunity to try to make a baby, and home insemination is a wonderful option to help you along in your journey. But only some companies are as dedicated to your dreams of having a baby as you are.
We hope this guide makes it easier to find the best kit for your next try. We’re rooting for you no matter what kit you choose and are here to support you at any point in your journey.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2018). FDA's Role in Regulating Medical Devices. Retrieved fromhttps://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/home-use-devices/fdas-role-regulating-medical-devices
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022). Expiration Dates - Questions and Answers. Retrieved fromhttps://www.fda.gov/drugs/pharmaceutical-quality-resources/expiration-dates-questions-and-answers
Annals of Translational Medicine. (2017). The sperm stewing in its own ROS—in the plastic Petri dish. Retrieved fromhttps://atm.amegroups.org/article/view/16098/html
National Library of Medicine. (2014). Drinking-Water Disinfection By-products and Semen Quality: A Cross-Sectional Study in China. Retrieved fromhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4080533/
