1

Chart your cycle. In order to determine when sexual intercourse will most likely result in pregnancy, it is useful to know when you are most fertile. Fertility is highest during ovulation, and charting your cycle can help determine when ovulation usually occurs within your cycle.

• The first day of your period, mark the number "1" on the calendar for that day.
• The first day of your next period, mark a "1" on the calendar that day, and mark the number of days in your last cycle on the day prior.
• Ovulation (releasing an egg from the ovary) typically occurs during the midpoint of your cycle. For example, in a typical 28 day cycle, ovulation tends to occur on day 14. In a 30 day cycle, ovulation should be expected on day 15. You can begin attempts to get pregnant before the end of your first cycle of course. Obviously, you should quit birth control before you try to get pregnant.
• Receive donations more frequently within a few days of this midpoint to increase chances of pregnancy.

2

Use OPK sticks. Ovulation predictor kits (OPK sticks) are a commonly-used device that can determine when a woman is ovulating to help time donations.

• Start using OPK sticks two days before the midpoint of your cycle, and continue using them until you either have a positive result or start your next cycle. Use them once per day.
• Cheap, generic sticks are usually adequate. They look like pregnancy tests and you can either pee on the wick at the end or immerse it in pee in a cup (read the actual instructions).
• Try to use the OPK sticks at the same time each day. Ovulation can vary widely between cycles and different women.
• Mark your OPK test results on the calendar for each day. It's important to know that they detect something called the LH surge (luteinizing hormone) from the pituitary gland in your brain that tells your ovaries it is time to ovulate. It doesn't happen immediately however, the LH surge precedes actual ovulation by 24 to 36 hours.
• Schedule immediate donation after a positive OPK test. Actual ovulation will take place within 24-48 hours.

3

Donor will deposit semen in the Instead Cup. Donor should not use lube of any kind and deposit directly into the cup. After deposit, he should roll it around to cover all of the thermoplastic membrane.

4

Insert the Cup within 10 minutes. Squeeze the sides of the Cup together and insert the Instead Cup as recommended by the manufacturer (all the way to the back of the vagina, covering the cervix near the back, with the front lip behind the pubic bone).

• Fertile cervical mucous will flow from your cervix into the Instead Cup covered in a film of semen. This will maximize the effectiveness of both your cervical mucous and your partners semen, which will liquify after about an hour when sperm will enter the cervical mucous and into your reproductive tract.
• Allow the Cup to sit inside your vagina for 6 -12  hours

5

Remove the Cup. After 6-12 hours, carefully remove the cup from your vagina. Removing the instead cup can be tricky and even a little frightening, but keep your cool and remember that it will come out with a little coaxing.

• If hooking your finger under the bottom lip and pulling doesn't work for you, break the seal at the top by poking it with a finger and pull it down and out. Putting your legs up to your chest and bearing down may help also.

6

Wait to test for pregnancy. Give yourself a longer window until testing for pregnancy, at least until after your next period would have normally come. It takes 7-10 days for a fertilized egg to reach the uterus and implant, so testing too early can be demoralizing and is not useful.