Wanting children is a natural part of growing older for a lot of people. What isn’t, however, is the possibility of needing fertility assistance in order to have children. Although fertility treatments are quite commonly used, that doesn’t mean people naturally know which procedure(s) is right for them. Many ask the question “IVF and Adoption, which is best for us?” and the answer isn’t always straightforward. Much depends on your personal circumstances and where you live.
When trying to get pregnant the first time we had many problems, very hard times and at one point we were told we wouldn’t conceive naturally and I may not be able to successfully carry. While, despite my fertility issue, we managed to conceive two healthy babies eventually, there was a time we thought we might be looking at different options. Many are in the same boat.
If you’re in a position where you need to decide between IVF and adoption, it’s important that you take into consideration the positives and negatives for each. Both options will allow you to have that family you desire, however, they won’t get you there in the same way; this is what leaves people so undecided about what to do.
IVF and Adoption: Adoption
When it comes to adoption, it’s important to make clear that the likelihood of adopting a baby can be rare depending on where you live. This is because babies are in such high demand. As a result, you’ll need to be open to adopting a child older than what you’d like, e.g. if you wanted a baby, you need to consider the possibility of adopting a toddler instead. For a lot of potential parents, the idea of having anything other than a baby isn’t feasible.
If, however, you’re open to adopting a child of any age, then you need to be aware that adoption isn’t guaranteed. The process is a thorough one, and while many different walks of people are encouraged to try for adoption, not all of them will get through. Although frustrating, the positive to take from this is that you’ll always be told why you failed in your application, thus giving you a chance to rectify it. Nonetheless, with an estimated two year wait for finalising adoption, some people turn to IVF for a quicker outcome.
IVF and Adoption: IVF
In contrast to adoption, undergoing IVF ensures that you not only have a baby from the start, but that you get to experience the uniqueness of childbearing. For those who want to be involved in every stage of their child’s’ lives, this is by far the better option for them. However, it’s by no means the least stressful, as there are still tests for defects, health issues, and various other hurdles that could interfere along the way.
As for guarantees, IVF is much like adoption in that it can’t promise you a successful treatment. Your healthcare providers will always do their best, but sometimes it’ll take two or three cycles for treatment to succeed, and even then, sometimes failure still happens. Although it’s a difficult thought to consider, by understanding and preparing for this side of IVF, you can better approach the situation if it does affect you. Hopefully, you won’t have to wait long for success, but you need to be prepared in case you have to.
Having children is wonderful and challenging no matter which route you take. The important part of your decision is to make sure you consider all the information and then go with what’s best for your future family. Make sure that you explore all avenues, including IVF and adoption, but don’t forget that counselling and support plays a large part in starting a family. This is especially true when things don’t go as you’d planned.
