Adoption

"With proper assessment and therapy, the majority of couples evaluated for infertility will become pregnant. For those who are refractory to the usual treatments, consideration of assisted reproductive technologies or adoption is appropriate. Couples thinking about adoption have a range of choices including social agency adoptions, private adoptions, and international adoptions. In some states, private adoption is not legal; however, where it is legal, it can provide an effective, more rapid alternative to adoption through a social agency. In most cases the biologic mother has the opportunity to know the adopting parents, and this lack of anonymity may direct some individuals away from private adoption. In addition, there is a short time period during which the biologic mother can reclaim the baby. In our experience, this devastating event occurs in approximately 5% of private adoptions.

"To facilitate private adoption, patients should be encouraged to "spread the word" that they are interested in adoption. In addition, letters can be directed to obstetricians throughout the country describing the couple and their desire for adoption. Both lawyers and non-lawyers have practices devoted to counseling couples (and individuals) on approaches to private adoption and regarding the adoption laws in individual states."

(Source: Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility. Speroff, Glass, and Kase. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 1999)