Which is Better? IVF or Adoption.
Having a baby and building a family is what every couple thinks about at some point in life. It seems like a conventional thing to do and happens naturally. But for some couples, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Many things play a crucial role in having a baby. Many factors decide for a couple can have a natural pregnancy or not. Infertility is something that can affect a couple badly, physically and emotionally as well. There can be various reasons to be infertile, medical, genetic or lifestyle, etc. But, gone are those days when a couple remains childless, if infertile. There are a few medical and social ways to have a child and start a family together. Adoption has always been there in human society for eons. And thanks to medical advancement, infertile couples have a chance to have their baby through fertility treatments like In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
In-Vitro Fertilization or IVF:
IVF or in Vitro fertilization is a medical process for couples dealing with infertility. In the process, The egg and sperm are fertilized outside the womb to make an embryo. Once fertilization is successful, the embryo is placed into the uterus to develop naturally like any other pregnancy. It is needful for the couple to be healthy before they can start IVF. Counseling is suggested to the couple before they can begin the process, it helps in understanding how it works. No two IVF experiences can be the same. So, the expense for every individual can be distinct, and determined by their specific requirements. The price also differs from hospital to hospital as well. The average cost for IVF in India ranges from 70,000 INR to 4,00,000 INR per IVF cycle, including all the diagnostics, tests, and medication required for the treatment. The main impediment is the financial expense attached to IVF. Also, it comes with a success rate of 40% only. Achieving one successful IVF result can take several attempts. Physical aspects of IVF are also necessary to take into consideration. For many women, the experience is particularly discomforting and painful, considering the surgical procedures, self-injecting medications, and other side effects.
Adoption:
There are different types of adoption: open, close, or through the orphanage. The journey of adoption is a lengthy process. The period for adopting a child varies from county to country, the only similarity everywhere is, waiting. It will take a while due to relevant paperwork and scanning. The associated authority must verify that you are capable to provide a stable home for the child and there is an intensive background check. The expenditure on adoption differs, with some being free and others not. People often identify adoption with zero risk, which is inaccurate.
Which one is better?
Both options are apt in their place. It depends on the couple’s needs and what they think is best for them. IVF is the first choice for many couples because it’s important for them for the baby to have their genetics. On the other hand, some couples just want to have a baby. Genetics and other things are not a huge consideration for them. They only want to embrace parenthood and have a family, for those adoption is the choice. Sometimes, when IVF does not work for a couple they move on to adoption.
IVF does not guarantee a positive pregnancy in all cases. Likewise, it is not guaranteed that the adoption would be approved by the concerned authorities. Both options are going to require patience and faith.
It is up to the couple when they wish to stop trying if their IVF cycles are not successful. IVF comes with no legal limit to how many IVF cycles you can have, but for adoption, there are certain legal limitations in some countries. Like in Australia, if a pair already have several children, they are not eligible for adoption. For IVF, you can go with the procedure again in case you already have a successful one.
The success rate of IVF is 40% only, for a woman under the age of 35; that success rate falls with aging. There is a significant risk that the treatments can be unsuccessful. Longing parents often have to endure several cycles of IVF to attain a fruitful pregnancy. IVF is a medical process that requires fertility medications and injections, egg retrieval surgery, and embryo transfer. Certain side effects involved in the procedure are hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, and more. For many women, these physical sacrifices are worth it to experience pregnancy and childbirth; some decide after multiple rounds of failed attempts that the process is too demanding with no guaranteed outcome. Adoption can be a demanding, uncertain, and costly process as well. But it does assure a child in the end.
The most evident difference between IVF and adoption is the genetic connection. With IVF parents can have a child biologically related to them, whereas adoption does not. This does not imply that an adopted child is loved any less by the parents or family, but for some people, it is essential to have a biological connection.
There is not much any parent can control about their family-building journey- even those who conceive conventionally. However, parents who opt for adoption may feel they can have some sense of control over certain things. Adoption gives a degree of freedom in terms of a child’s birthplace, age, gender and what special needs they are comfortable with, etc.
Deciding whether to opt for fertility treatments or adoption is a significant decision for any couple. It purely depends upon the hopeful parents, their priorities, and expectations. Both can take a toll on them financially as well as emotionally. People must understand that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ choice when it comes to choosing between these two. It all sums up what will be beneficial for them and their future family. There will be pros and cons associated with each choice.
While it's a personal decision, professional guidance should also be taken into consideration. It can help you understand each one more clearly and weigh available options to make the best decision. Doctors can help explain IVF more thoroughly, with every advantage and possible risk involved in the process. Similarly, an adoption agency can guide you through the process and choices open for adoption. It can ease the journey for the expectant parents a little bit. Both procedures can help a pair in becoming parents, but neither of the two is certain.