The stack of pregnancy tests were just mocking Alyssa at this point. This was after two years of trying, and only 2 "late" periods to show for it. She knew that for her and her husband it wasn't going to be easy, she was 38 after all and he was 45, but this bad?
Growing up, Alyssa always felt a bit like a wallflower. She developed breasts early on, and all throughout middle and high school wore the baggiest clothing possible to hide her body. She had a handful of female friends, but always felt too awkward around the boys to even learn how to flirt. Going into college, she tried to cut loose a little and 'have fun', but all that came of that were a handful of sloppy make-out sessions and an awkward computer science major fumbling under her bra. At least she was able to focus on her studies and nab a good grad school program.
It was in this program that she met Matthew, a few years ahead of her and also a bit inexperienced. A bit stocky, thinning hair even back then, but he had an easy going affable nature that made dating him undramatic. They fumbled their way through dating together, and one night on an IKEA futon, lost their virginity to each other. Honestly she thought it would hurt more the first time, but overall she thought it was a fun, if just a mildly pleasurable, experience. They eventually got married, before settling into their next stage of life.
Over the years she'd tried to spice things up, different positions and some 'naughty' lingerie, but Matthew only ever seemed mildly interested in sex. Alyssa felt fine with this compromise, he was a good husband in other ways. They waited for a while to try and have kids. First, they both wanted to wrap up their phd programs, then get in a good place career wise, and even after all that Matthew still had to feel "right to bring a kid into the world". Once she turned 35 she started to push the issue, and soon they agreed to 'pulled the goalie'.
Alyssa went out and bought all the books, trackers, and tests to try and maximize their chances. She tried not to stress about it, knowing that would only make it worse. But, three months turned into 6 months, and one year turned into 2, and they were still here, with only a few years left for her fertility. Then the bad news got worse. After a series of tests and doctors, they found out that he was near infertile. Worse still, the possibility of artificial insemination was problematic for her, as the various shots and drug regimen would wreak havoc on her anti-depression medications. They had no options left, except one.
"So...what about natural insemination?" Alyssa asked one night with half a bottle of wine in her.
"Natural, what do you mean?" Matthew asked, generally perplexed.
Alyssa finally had the nerve to tell him, after researching the topic on her own. "Well...I learned about this on some of the mommy-to-be blogs. it's where the donor provides his sperm directly, without a doctor involved."
"Provides, like, how?"
Alyssa's face was now bright red. "Well, with intercourse. That's....one way. He could also use something like a turkey baster."
"Oh that last way is too weird!" Matthew said, "I'd rather you'd just go the whole way without some weird masturbation kitchen tool scheme."
Alyssa had to laugh through her nerves "yea, I guess that's kinda goofy."
And to be honest, she was a little relieved. Obviously she was willing to go the turkey baster route, but in a way felt way more comfortable with someone just doing it the old fashioned way.
"So the guy is supposed to just have sex with you?"
"Well it wouldn't be like normal sex, more straight forward insemination. Like, he wouldn't see me naked or anything, it could be pitch black if we want. He'd probably just....come from me from behind."
An awkward silence hung in the air. "And there are people who offer to do this, like on an app or something?"
Now Alyssa had to show all her cards from her late-night research.
"Yea...here's the website I found with potential donors...."
"What's the motivation for these guys, that can't be that arousing or anything."
"Oh, I don't think it's supposed to be arousing," she answered, "I think they're just looking to help out couples struggling like ourselves."
She showed him the site she found, and they scanned over the little written description for each. Race, age, education level, pedigree, etc.
"They're all so young," Mathew said, with a little disgust.
"I know," Alyssa responded, feeling her nerves start anew.
"I guess that's a good thing, right? It's supposed to help? I'm sorry, is this all okay, we don't have to" she answered.
"No, no, it's alright, I guess I just hadn't thought of it."
Matthew didn't know what he was expecting, perhaps a mature, demure, and unattractive man, doing this out of the kindness of his own heart. Now he was seeing that it would probably be a young and virile athlete, and really, the motivation for these guys seemed more clear than she was guessing. By his own admission, he knew he was some 50 pounds overweight, with a gut that hung out over his waist. He tried getting into better shape through this whole fertility journey, but all that came of it was 3 lousy trips to the gym and a 50 dollar a month membership he didn't have the nerve to get out of.
"How about this one? He's Harvard educated, tall, an athlete, that's good right? Probably healthy?" Alyssa said.
"A student, what is he, 18?" Matthew said.
"19, but I can check his ID if that makes you nervous," Alyssa responded.
"Oh, in that case good, just don't serve him beer." Mathew responded, with some attitude.
"I'm sorry, are you uncomfortable with this?" she asked.
"No, I understand what has to happen here, but I didn't think he'd be some young strapping boytoy."
"It's not going to be anything like that," Alyssa responded defiantly. "It's going to be mechanical, like a procedure."
Matthew sighed, "Yea, I know, to be honest I'm kinda tired of trying." She kind of suspected the sex was wearing on him, and he was a bit relieved he wouldn't have to keep stressing about it.
"But," he added, "let's set out some rules, okay?"
They agreed on some simple guidelines: the donor will get himself warmed up by himself, come into their room, and enter her from behind. She'll keep as much of her clothes on as needed, he'll move in her going as quick as he can, "do the deed," then see himself out. But they both admitted that these are guidelines, and that Matthew trusted Alyssa if anything needed to change in the moment. She then messaged the donor, and got a simple response almost immediately.
The day of the 'donation' came, and Alyssa looked at herself in the mirror; she has to admit she looked quite good for her age. Her long black hair kept tight up with a pony and headband, a tank on top of a bra that was more supportive than sexy. Her 34d breasts hadn't quite sunk too much, though hopefully that would all change soon. She tried to keep in great shape, but no matter how much she worked she couldn't shrink her ass or her wide hips. She decided on some simple workout shorts for the evening, easy on / easy off.
"Well I guess he'll be here in the next 30 minutes or so, I'll get out of here." Matthew said.
"What are you going to do?" Alyssa asked, trying to sound like she cared, and not filled with nervous anticipation.
"Probably see a movie, that should be long enough, right?"
"Oh most definitely, quick in / quick out." She answered.
"Oh yes, I remember being 19, I think back then 20 seconds was all I needed" he said.
She chuckled nervously.
"Well," he gave her a light kiss on the forehead, "good luck." And with that, he left.
Alyssa waited on their couch for what felt like an eternity, and the nerves fully hit. She was about to have sex, with another man. But was it sex? She tried not to think of it in that way, and that this was all just another task to do, but another man would be inside her. Would it feel good? Is she allowed to feel something? Then, the doorbell rang, and popped up to answer. When she first saw him, she managed to hold back a gasp, but holy hell. His golden curly locks framed his strong cheekbones and gray eyes. He was an athlete, a crew rower if she had to guess, and all of the 6'4" he claimed on the site. He wore one of his workout muscle Ts and shorts, because of course he did, he is 19 after all. And Alyssa couldn't help but steal a glance; she hoped he was already a little hard because there was already an outline of a penis down there.
"Are you, the uh, customer?" He said with all the awkwardness of a teenager.
"Yes, I'm sorry, I don't think we're supposed to share names, come in," she tried to sound as calm and collected as she could, but damn she felt awkward.
"Do you want to sit and talk a bit or get right to it?" she asked.
"Um, yea, I guess we could sit." He flopped down, manspreading on their couch; reflexively grabbing his crotch to adjust after he said down.
"Can I get you anything, water, or ah, gosh, I guess I can't get something stronger because you're under..." she couldn't quite get out that he was under 21.
"No, I'm alright," he said.
She took a seat in a chair opposite the couch. "So you're a student, right?"
"Yup, second year."
"I bet it was hard to get into Harvard.?"
"Yea, like I had pretty good grades, but I think they really wanted me for my sport."
"Right, an athlete..."
"Yea, row crew, it keeps me pretty busy and stuff, every day, up at 4am, down by 9pm."
"Wow, that's a lot, I guess it keeps you from the hard party scene huh?"
"Yea, I guess," it sounded like he was getting bored.
A silence filled the room, and Alyssa realized she had to end the awkwardness of what was bout to happen head on.
"So how long have you been doing this, donating?" she asked.
He was taken a little aback, "Oh, well I guess this is my first time."
"Well what makes you want to get into this world?" she asked.
Now he looked quite uncomfortable, "well, I mean, I want to, you know..."