Frequently Asked Questions

You have a ton of questions. We’ve got answers.

Get the most value out of your Maia appointments and classes by reading through the information below prior to your next meeting. If you don’t find the answers you’re looking for, be sure to ask your midwife or instructor during your next session.

General Information

Where are you located?

Our clinic is in the West Seattle neighborhood of Seattle, Washington.


Do I have to live in Seattle to receive fertility services?

No! We can provide everything BUT the IUI procedure no matter where you live. This includes clinical preconception care, classes, and support groups.  We often work with families at a distance who are getting their IUIs in a fertility clinic or with a less experienced IUI midwife.


Can I meet with the midwife before establishing care?

Yes, you can schedule a brief consultation. 

Schedule your  "Meet the Midwife" appointment.


I’m planning to conceive sometime this year. When should I start care?

It is ideal to start preconception care up to a year before you are ready to conceive, although it is most common to start care 3-6 months before your first cycle attempt.


I’m going to ovulate next week - can I schedule an IUI with you?

We require that you establish care at least one month before your first IUI procedure with us.

Do you bill insurance? Can I use my Health Savings Account?

We accept direct payment from you, including using your HSA funds, at or before the time of service. We are happy to provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company if you have fertility benefits, or we can provide the information needed to submit to your HSA program. You may be able to submit for reimbursement for some of our classes as well.


Fertility Care

What is included in the Initial Fertility Visit?

We will perform a health history based on the information you provide on your intake form, discuss and order lab work, assess your nutrition based on your 3-day diet log, order ultrasound or semen analysis as needed, and provide you with a fertility support/pregnancy preparation plan, including recommended supplements, nutrition, and lifestyle approach. We will also provide resources to get started tracking your ovulation. Any cycle charts you already have will be reviewed at your Initial Fertility Visit, and subsequent cycle charts will be reviewed as part of your follow-up care.

Do I need to complete lab work before my first visit?

We will order lab work as part of your preconception care.

Can you order lab work for me?

We can order lab work for clients anywhere in the United States.

Can you order a semen analysis?

Yes, we can provide you with an order for a semen analysis.

Where can I find the Maia Cycle Chart?

Should I chart for a few months before meeting with you?

Not unless you have a lot of lead time or you simply enjoy charting your cycles! We recommend meeting with the midwife after you have completed your very first cycle chart so that you can receive feedback that will assist you going forward.

Do you prescribe ovulation medications?

At this time, Licensed Midwives in WA do not have access to prescriptive authority for these types of medications. However, the evidence shows that for individuals without infertility who simply need donor sperm to conceive, unmedicated cycles have higher success rates, without increasing the risk of twins (which is more than FOUR TIMES higher with medications like clomid). If you are having difficulty conceiving, or if your clinical picture warrants it, we will not hesitate to refer you to a fertility specialist or another provider who can provide you with a prescription for ovulation induction medications.

What does follow-up care look like?

  • About one month after your Initial Fertility Visit, we will have a 30-minute follow-up visit to review your first cycle chart and go over the results of any tests we have ordered for you.

  • Each month, we will have a 15-minute cycle chart review until you have a solid timing plan in place.

  • Before your first IUI cycle, we will have a 15-minute visit to talk logistics and make sure all your paperwork is in order. If you are ready to start trying right away, this visit will be combined with your first follow-up appointment.

  • After every three insemination cycles, we will schedule a 30-minute case review to discuss any changes to your plan or provide guidance about next steps.

  • Once you get a positive pregnancy test, we will meet right away to discuss early pregnancy and order ultrasound and lab work if desired. We will also discuss prenatal care providers and send records to the provider of your choice once you have established care.




Fertility Follow-up Visit Fees:

15 minutes: $50

30 minutes: $75

45 minutes: $125

60 minutes: $150

What do fertility follow-up visits cost?


Follow-up fertility visit fees:

15 minutes: $50

30 minutes: $75

45 minutes: $125

60 minutes: $150

Can I stay with you for prenatal care and birth?

We are not providing clinical prenatal care or attending births at this time. However, we provide adjunct care for many pregnant families through our LGBTQ+ Pregnancy and Parenting Program.

Family Building

What is included in the Family Building Consultation?

Family Building Consultations are non-clinical appointments. If you are at the very beginning of the donor insemination process and just want to start with basic information before starting clinical care, this is for you. Talk with the midwife about the conception process, create a timeline for conceiving, discuss donor options and get some help up front with important logistics. We can also provide assistance with formulating your family vision, exploring co-parenting, or clarifying your decision to become a parent. We can meet to facilitate decision-making about which partner should conceive or help you nurture your relationship as you pursue the goal of having a child. We can meet with your known donor to address questions and concerns about the donor experience, or we can facilitate communication between you and your known donor as you create a known donor agreement. We can also meet with you to discuss your reproductive goals as you navigate gender transition or come off hormones to conceive.

I’m still deciding whether or not I want to be a parent. Can you help with this?

Yes! Many clients find the Family Building Consultation to be immensely helpful for understanding the process and receiving counseling around the decision to become a parent.

Can you help us decide which one of us should conceive?

Absolutely. Although the ultimate decision is of course yours, we can discuss some of the emotional and practical considerations in a Family Building Consultation. You may also opt to complete an initial fertility visit for each of you so that clinical information can guide your decision-making process.

What if my partner and I want to be pregnant at the same time?

While this is discussed more thoroughly in Queer Conception: The Complete Fertility Guide for Queer and Trans Parents-to-Be, for many reasons we do not recommend simultaneous pregnancies within a family unit.


Do you provide assistance with donor selection?

We can help you with considerations for using a known donor, navigating sperm banks, and deciding which route may be best for your family.

Donor Insemination (IUI)

Can you sign the release form for my sperm bank?

Yes, we provide this service once you have established care with us. Almost all sperm banks accept our clinical authority to sign your release form, however, please note that Xytex sperm bank in Atlanta will only accept a signature from an MD.

How do I get my sperm sample from the sperm bank?

Most sperm banks will ship your sample in a nitrogen tank that keeps the sample frozen for 7 days (Seattle Sperm Bank will provide a 14-day tank). Most will deliver to your home or to our clinic.

Can’t I just inseminate at home on my own? Why would I need IUI?

If you have fresh samples from a partner, co-parent, or known donor whose fertility has been verified, self insemination may be preferable, although this comes with legal and clinical risks. However, for those conceiving with frozen sperm, studies show that intrauterine insemination (IUI) doubles your chances of conception. Because the sperm are placed directly inside the uterus, they can travel quickly to the fallopian tubes and get ready to fertilize an egg. For those who have access to fresh sperm, IUI may be performed to increase chances of conception, especially for those with slightly impaired fertility or those who have tried for a while without success.

How do I get the timing right for IUI?

IUI timing is precise and must be done as close to ovulation as possible, ideally within 12 hours of the release of your egg. Most fertility clinics predict ovulation in relation to the administration of a trigger shot or a once daily OPK test, which can be inaccurate and overly broad. At Maia, we help you achieve the best timing for your own body based on your unique pattern of physiological signs of ovulation. We provide you with the know-how to determine your body’s best time to inseminate, which is critical when using frozen sperm. You can also rent the Timing Is Everything webinar to learn more about perfecting your insemination timing.


What should I know about IUI with Maia?

The IUI procedure is the same at Maia as anywhere else – we just do it differently than most other providers. We provide a gentle, comfortable experience, explaining everything as we go. As with all pelvic exams at Maia, we utilize a trauma-informed approach, which means that you say when the exam begins, and your consent is given before we proceed to each step of the procedure. Unlike most IUI providers, we never use a tenaculum (metal cervical clamp) to assist the IUI procedure. Instead, we rely on skill, finesse, and good timing, which is key for easy passage through the cervix. The glowing feedback we receive about the comfort and ease of our IUI technique speaks volumes – most notably from those who have experienced IUI with other providers and had a completely different experience with us.

What is “sperm washing”?

This refers to preparation of a semen sample for IUI. Because seminal fluid cannot be placed directly within the uterus, the sperm cells must be separated from the seminal fluid through a process of combining the sample with a wash medium and placing it in a centrifuge. The sperm cells are isolated, and the seminal fluid is removed. Then the sperm cells are resuspended in a carrier medium for placement in the uterus.

Do you provide shipping kits for sperm samples?

No, we refer to Donor Home Delivery for this service.

How can I have my shipped sperm samples tested?

We will arrange for this once you have established care with us.

What is the cost of IUI at Maia?

IUI Base Rate: $350

IUI Sample Prep: $200-300

Additional fees for services provided on evenings, weekends, and holidays

Professional Training

Do you provide a discount for group practices?

No, the course is priced per participant.


Are there any other discounted rates available?

We provide a 50% reparations rate for BIPOC midwives. Use the discount code BIPOC50 when you sign up.

Can I attend this course while I’m still in midwifery school?

No, the IUI Provider Course is only appropriate for practicing midwives who have already completed their midwifery education.

Do you provide CEUs?

Yes. Providing Culturally Sensitive Care for LGBTQ+ Families provides 7 contact hours through MEAC. The IUI Provider Course provides 20 contact hours through ACNM.


alt text test

Together we will create a fertility enhancement plan that takes all of these things into account, focusing on what makes you feel most vibrant and alive. This holistic model invites you to bring your full self to the journey of becoming a parent or expanding your family, even before you have conceived.

- Kristin Liam Kali, Licensed Midwife & Founder
- Kristin Liam Kali, Licensed Midwife & Founder

Join our mailing list to get the Maia Fertility Chart