Dr. Sarah Chen, MD
MD, FACOG
Board-certified OB-GYN specializing in reproductive endocrinology and fertility medicine with over 15 years of clinical experience.
Articles by Dr. Sarah Chen, MD
At-Home Insemination Kit: What the Clinical Evidence Shows
A clinical review of at home insemination kit options—what the evidence says about syringe design, success rates, and how to choose the right kit.
Home Insemination Syringe: A Clinician's Guide to Device Selection
A clinical review of the home insemination syringe—how material, tip design, volume, and sterility affect ICI outcomes, with evidence-based device selection guidance.
ICI vs IUI: A Clinical Comparison to Help You Choose
An evidence-based comparison of intracervical insemination (ICI) and intrauterine insemination (IUI), covering success rates, costs, invasiveness, and which patients are best suited to each approach.
ICI Success Rates: What the Peer-Reviewed Research Actually Shows
A rigorous review of published clinical data on intracervical insemination success rates, broken down by age, sperm source, cycle number, and stimulation protocol.
How to Perform ICI at Home: The Complete Medical Protocol
A clinician-reviewed, step-by-step guide to performing intracervical insemination at home, covering timing, preparation, positioning, and what to do if something goes wrong.
ICI for LGBTQ+ Families: The Complete Medical Guide
A clinical guide to intracervical insemination for lesbian couples, single women, and LGBTQ+ family-builders — covering donor selection, legal considerations, and what to expect from the process.
Planning Multiple ICI Cycles: Strategy for Best Outcomes
How to develop a multi-cycle ICI strategy that maximizes cumulative success rates while managing emotional and financial resources effectively.
Understanding Sperm Quality for ICI: A Patient's Clinical Guide
What sperm parameters actually matter for ICI success, how to read a semen analysis, and what you can do to optimize sperm quality before insemination.
The Two-Week Wait After ICI: What to Expect
What happens in your body during the two weeks between intracervical insemination and a pregnancy test, including normal symptoms and when to test.
ICI vs Natural Conception: How Success Rates Compare
A data-driven comparison of intracervical insemination success rates versus natural conception, with breakdowns by age, sperm quality, and timing accuracy.
How Cervical Mucus Affects ICI Success: A Clinical Guide
Understanding the role of cervical mucus in intracervical insemination success rates, including how to assess mucus quality and optimize timing.
Endometrial Thickness and ICI Success: What the Research Shows
A clinical review of how endometrial thickness affects ICI implantation rates, optimal thickness thresholds, and strategies for improving uterine lining preparation.
Timing ICI Without OPK Strips: BBT, Cervical Signs, and Cycle Mapping
Learn how to accurately time ICI using basal body temperature, cervical mucus patterns, and cycle charting when LH test strips are unavailable or unreliable.
Trigger Shots for Home ICI: What They Are and Whether You Need One
Understand what hCG and Lupron trigger shots do for ICI cycles, who needs them, how to self-administer, and the risks of using them without medical supervision.
Follicular Tracking for ICI: When to Scan, What to Look For
Discover how ultrasound follicular monitoring improves ICI timing, what follicle sizes indicate ovulation is near, and when monitoring is worth the cost.
Progesterone Support After ICI: What the Evidence Says
Should you take progesterone supplements after ICI? We review the clinical evidence, who benefits, common protocols, and risks of over-supplementation.
Cervical Mucus and ICI Timing: The Complete Fertility Guide
Learn how cervical mucus quality, consistency, and color directly affect ICI success — and how to use it as your most reliable ovulation indicator.