A woman who gave birth to her daughter without ever having sex has spoken about the joys - and the challenges - of her unusual circumstances.
Kimberley Godsall, 38, from Kent, welcomed two-year-old daughter, Scarlett in 2019, via IVF using a sperm donor.
Although Kimberley has been in two relationships, she ended both after realising the men were not 'the one'.
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Concerned that her life was not following the plan she had hoped, Kimberley saw a counsellor, and suddenly realised she didn't need a man to have her baby.
"I don’t judge other people for having lots of sexual partners — they can do what they like with their bodies. And I wouldn’t expect my partner to be a virgin, that doesn’t bother me either, this is just what I’ve always wanted for myself," she told the Mail Online.
"For as long as I can remember I’ve longed to be a mum and with every year that passed I felt my biological clock ticking louder."
Kimberley booked an appointment to see a consultant at the Care Fertility Clinic and was relieved to learn her being a virgin wouldn't make a difference to the procedure.
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"He told me that women having babies without ever having sex was much more common than anyone would imagine. There are some couples who don’t have a sexual relationship, usually due to trauma of some kind, but still want children," she said.
In 2017, Kimberley took the first steps to becoming a mum and selected a sperm donor online. She paid £1,700 for two vials of sperm which would be enough for two rounds of IUI (intrauterine insemination). The process sees a woman artificially inseminated during her natural cycle.
Kimberley recalled how she opted to be conscious for the procedure, but unfortunately had a very painful experience.
"They told me afterwards that my extreme reaction was down to being a virgin. Psychologically as much as physically, I was unaccustomed to any activity down there," said Kimberley.
While both rounds of IUI were sadly unsuccessful, doctors suggested Kimberley try IVF - which was successful.
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"I told my mum and sister I was going to do a test but wanted to be on my own when I did it. I squealed with delight when it came up positive and told my cats the good news first — they were completely uninterested, but they were there.
"I called my mum first and she said: 'Oh my goodness. I’m so happy for you'. Then I rang my sister, who was thrilled for me, and told her not to make any plans for February because I wanted her to be my birthing partner. I might not have got the man or the big white wedding I’d dreamed of, but I was so happy I wasn’t going to miss out on having a baby."
Scarlett was born at Tunbridge Wells Hospital on 25th February 2019 weighing 8lb 8oz.
"I used to feel that I wasn’t quite normal, having never had sex, and I didn’t want to die not knowing what it was like," Kimberley continued.
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"Part of me still does wonder what sex is like, and if I’m missing out, but not enough to have it with someone I’m not committed to. The fact I have my little girl is far more important to me than any of that."
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