Jill Gustafson, CNM provides concierge fertility services for patients in Boise, Idaho, and the surrounding area. Jill is a compassionate and caring medical professional who has special expertise and training in fertility services, including intrauterine insemination (IUI). With the heart and hands of a midwife, Jill is dedicated to helping all types of families grow. Non-traditional families are welcome!
Fertility Q&A
What kinds of fertility services do you provide?
Whether you are simply trying to life-plan, or you are actively trying to conceive, our fertility services are comprehensive and personalized to your unique situation.
Fertility Overview (In-person or Telehealth)
This is the most comprehensive way to get a full overview of your fertility health. During this 2-hour long visit, we will go over your health history and current lifestyle, and we will discuss your fertility goals. We will also review environmental, social, and lifestyle factors that can optimize both male and female fertility. Fertility hormone lab testing can also provide an important picture of your fertility health. Whether you are planning conception now, or in the future, we will discuss how to know your body's optimal timing for conception, such as:
- basal body temperature monitoring
- cervical fluid tracking
- LH surge monitoring
The goal of this visit is to empower you to understand your fertility health, and help you create a personal plan for your fertility journey. Partners are welcome.
Conception Planning
If you are actively trying to conceive, this consultation is for you. Whether you are planning to conceive via intercourse or using fresh or frozen sperm from a partner or donor, we will work together to ensure a positive and successful conception process. Together with Jill, we will go through your health history, current lifestyle, nutrition, stress levels, current menstrual cycle data, sperm health, and your future plans for your family. The goal of this 2-3 hour intake visit is to establish a personalized support system that maximizes your chances of conception. This visit can take place in your home, or in our office. After this visit, you will have 24/7 email access to us for any extra support, review of your fertility charting, lab work, and assistance with timing intercourse or inseminations.
Intrauterine Insemination (at-home or in-office)
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a procedure where a trained medical professional passes a tiny, plastic catheter through the opening of the cervix into the uterus and inseminates the uterus with either fresh or frozen sperm. Sperm must be put through a procedure called "washing" prior to insemination into the uterus. You may use frozen sperm from a known or anonymous donor, or fresh sperm that has been washed from a known donor or partner. IUI is a safe and gentle procedure that can be performed comfortably at your home, or in our office. Jill Gustafson will meet with you for an initial conception planning visit to optimize your chances of conception. Afterward, as you begin to try to conceive, Jill will come to your home to perform the IUI. The procedure can also be done at our office if you prefer. If you would prefer to do ICI or IVI (Intracervical or Intravaginal Inseminations), we will assist you to learn to do the procedure confidently at home.
It is critical for the success of IUI to time it for your most fertile window. Jill and her backup team of certified nurse midwives will be on call for you 24-7 so that we can perform the IUI at the correct time. Instead of stimulating your ovaries with medications and triggering ovulation with an injection, we will closely monitor your body's own signs of fertility and ovulation, and we will time IUIs during your most fertile window.
What is sperm washing?
Sperm washing is the process of separating the healthy, motile (swimming) sperm from the rest of the ejaculate. In addition to healthy sperm, a man's ejaculate contains dead or nonmotile sperm, enzymes, proteins, and fluids that are not desirable for direct mixing with eggs or for intrauterine insemination. During sperm washing, the healthy, motile sperm are then concentrated into a special sperm media or solution called HTF (Human Tubal Fluid) which nourishes and preserves them for fertilization of the egg. Sperm washing is performed in a series of steps including centrifuging or spinning the semen sample several times to separate the best sperm from the remainder of the specimen.
Can you provide access to sperm washing, or donor sperm?
For clients who require sperm washing locally in Boise, we recommend Idaho Urologic Institute. This is a same-day procedure, and we will work with you to ensure seamless integration between the timing of sperm washing and your insemination.
For clients who require donor sperm, we recommend Seattle Sperm Bank. The sample of your choice will be delivered frozen, on dry ice, to your home. We will take it from there!
