ABSTRACT
Most people assume that once they have decided to have children, the desired
baby will arrive in short order. The belief in the miracles of modern medical
technology and the sensationalized media accounts of postmenopausal women
giving birth to healthy babies provides a highly unrealistic backdrop of expec-
tation for couples1 who have difficulties with conception. When a couple is
faced with infertility, a long and arduous journey often begins. This chapter
will explore the unique issues and losses associated with infertility and the
factors that are involved in the consideration of adoption for couples who are
unable to have a biological child together. The focus will be upon the experience
of infertility and adoption from the perspective of those who have undergone
infertility treatment. Due to space constraints, the experience of birth mothers
who give up their babies for adoption and the children that are adopted will not
be explored, but it is important to keep in mind that adoption encompasses a
diverse range of experiences and feelings not just for adoptive parents but also
for biological parents and adopted children.
