vida: At Home Insemination
2024 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master of Fine Arts (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis [Artistic work]
Abstract [en]
Infertility is a global health issue affecting millions of people of reproductive age worldwide. It is a disease of the male or female reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. (1) Specialists suggest that if infertility is not severe, or if the desire to be pregnant is from a lesbian couple, single women, or HIV serodiscordant couples, they can opt for less invasive insemination treatments such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or Intracervical Insemination (ICI). These treatments can be attempted for up to six months before considering more complex treatments like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intratubal Insemination (ITI), or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). (2) One of the main challenges with home treatments is the lack of proper equipment to guide users during the process. Additionally, the logistics and cost of frozen sperm from banks often deter users. Consequently, many opt for fresh sperm, obtained from donors who undergo blood and sperm screening. However, this method poses communication issues when coordinating the ovulation peak and transportation challenges. Fresh sperm might also not be cleaned or washed, reducing the chances of fertilization. Despite these challenges, this option is affordable and somewhat reliable for most people. Abstract This project was approached with a user-centric perspective to understand how individuals and couples interact before, during, and after the insemination treatment, how they face problems, and their problem-solving methods to implement new solutions. The solution was developed through extensive research involving different users and experts worldwide, focusing on exploring technologies, mechanics, interactions, and design iterations to achieve the best possible solution. The result of the project is Vida, a home insemination kit that assists couples and individuals in achieving pregnancy through a hybrid system of intracervical and intrauterine insemination. This system places washed sperm as close as possible to the cervix, increasing the chances of pregnancy. It is designed for, but not limited to, same-sex couples (cisgender women), single women, HIV serodiscordant couples, and heterosexual couples seeking a less invasive and affordable home treatment.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2024. , p. 72
Keywords [en]
Insemination, design
National Category
Engineering and Technology Design
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-228367OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-228367DiVA, id: diva2:1888439
Subject / course
Degree Project, Advanced Product Design
Educational program
Master's Programme in Advanced Product Design
Supervisors
Examiners
2024-08-132024-08-132025-02-24Bibliographically approved