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.
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Although Kimberley has been in two relationships, she ended both after realising the men were not 'the one'.
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."
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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.
"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.
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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."
Lucy Devine