Alina* and her wife are a loving same-sex couple from Peterborough, United Kingdom who decided to start a family after six years of building a strong bond.
They began their journey to expand their family and were thrilled to become pregnant in just two months using the twoplus Applicator, which they found to be the best option for them.
This self-insemination sperm syringe works well with ejaculated or donated sperm, making it ideal for couples who are trying to conceive the non-conventional way 👩❤️💋👩 It’s also great for TTC folks who want to get a head start on their conception journey. (For more information on speeding up your own pregnancy timeline, read our Ultimate Guide to Getting Pregnant.)
We’re all aware of how same-sex couples tend to face greater challenges when growing a family. But modern fertility aids designed by brands like twoplus have enabled members of the LGBTQ+ community to become parents in their own way.
Alina and her wife's love story serves as a beacon of hope for the rest of us.
*Name was changed to protect privacy.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is not intended as medical advice.
Hear Alina’s Firsthand Account of Their Journey To Conceive ❤️
Interview responses were edited for clarity.
Q: Hi, Alina! Tell us a bit about yourself! How old are you and your wife? Where do you live in the U.K. and what do you both work as?
A: My wife and I are both 25 years old. We live in Peterborough. My wife is in the military while I am in school.
Q: Congratulations on getting pregnant with the twoplus Applicator! Is this your first successful pregnancy?
A: Yes, this is our first successful pregnancy after TTC for 2 months.
Q: Why did you start trying for a baby? How long have you been trying to conceive?
A: We were ready to start a family [as] we have been together for 6 years and were ready to expand our family. We had only been trying to conceive for about 2 months before we became pregnant.
Q: What were the top 3 questions you had early on in your conception journey?
A: How long would it take for us to conceive? How would my body feel after insemination? Am I doing or taking the right things to ensure that everything goes well during insemination?
Q: What were the 3 things you wish you knew when you were trying to conceive (TTC)?
A: I wish I knew that:
- One (sperm) donation would be enough if you self-inseminate during your (ovulation) peak period,
- My body was made for this and I shouldn't stress*, and
- Everyone has their own journey through this process and what one may go through, I might not.
*The twoplus note: If you need help managing stress on your conception journey, read our post on “8 Ways To Keep Your Mental Health In Check While Trying To Conceive.”
Q: Could you share more about your fertility struggles as a couple before the pregnancy?
A: For us, we did not have any fertility struggles and medical conditions as a couple before this pregnancy.
Q: What else have you tried in your TTC journey before using twoplus?
A: We have only used [the] twoplus Applicator.
Q: How often did you use the twoplus Applicator before you got pregnant?
A: We used it for 2 months before we fell pregnant.
In the 1st month, we used it 1 day before ovulation peaked. In the 2nd month, we use it on my wife’s peak (ovulation) day.
Q: Was the Applicator easy to use? Was it uncomfortable after inserting, and did you have any trouble using the fertility tool?
A: The Applicator with the instructions made it very easy for my partner to use. It was very comfortable and there were no issues using the fertility aid.
Q: Did you adopt any lifestyle changes to improve your odds of conceiving?
A: The only thing my wife did was [to] take prenatal vitamins and ashwagandha, which we thought could help fertility.
Q: Would you recommend the twoplus Applicator to other people who may have difficulties with natural conception?
A: I would recommend this Applicator to any couple. It was very easy to use. It helped us create the family that we have been planning for years.
Q: If you could go back to the beginning of your TTC journey, what would you have done differently? Also, what would you suggest to other couples who are TTC?
A: My wife would make sure that the timing was better for her peak (ovulation). The first time she wasn't tracking her ovulation the way she should have and missed it. On my second time, we were tracking ovulation [correctly]*.
I would recommend just taking your time and making sure the timing is right. Timing is everything during this process.
*The twoplus note: If you need help with ovulation tracking, read our all-in-one guide on “How To Track Your Ovulation and Boost Your Odds of Pregnancy.”
twoplus Can Help Even if You’re on Track to Getting Pregnant
By providing a more convenient and affordable option for at-home insemination, the twoplus Applicator empowers same-sex couples — and heterogenous ones, too — to take control of their fertility journey and start a family sooner than later.