Resources
There are a number of resources available to patients to help them through this stressful process.
RESOLVE: Founded in Massachusetts, this is a self-help organization that provides support and information to couples undergoing infertility evaluation and treatment. www.resolve.org
- RESOLVE
PO Box 541553
Waltham, MA
02454-1553
Telephone: 781-647-1614 or 781-899-7207
Website: www.resolveofthebaystate.org
Email: admin@resolveofthebaystate.org
Internet sites: There is a wealth of information, and misinformation, on the web. It is important for doctors to review with patients the information that they have gathered, as often it can be incorrect or misleading.
Mind-Body Medical Institute:
Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital
Adoption Issues and Resources
Adoption is a reasonable option for single individuals or couples who have been unsuccessful with or do not wish to undergo fertility treatments. There are many issues for the prospective parents to consider: the age, ethnicity, or race of the child they wish to adopt, domestic vs. foreign adoption, and whether the couple would be willing to adopt a child with special needs. It is important to remember that the decision to adopt, while ultimately a very positive one, represents another loss to the infertile couple. Many couples are discordant in their views about adoption, and it can take some time and effort to arrive at a plan that is mutually satisfying. The costs of adoption are high, approximately $30,000, for either domestic or foreign adoption and are not covered by insurance. Costs are less for adoption of children with special needs.
There are many resources available to individuals considering adoption. Many couples find consultation with an adoption counselor to be very helpful in sorting through all the options.
Two resources available to couples considering adoption include:
Domestic Adoption
Domestic adoption can be either public (through the Department of Social Services) or private (through an agency or lawyer). Most private domestic adoptions in this state are semi-open, meaning that couples will have some contact with the birth family before the birth and sometimes afterwards. The advantage of domestic adoption is that babies are very young, often right out of the hospital. Disadvantages include the expense and another level of uncertainty around waiting and being "matched" with a birthmother.
Foreign Adoption
Many organizations both in Massachusetts and nationwide help families adopt children from other countries. The children are slightly older in most cases, but are legally (in most countries) considered orphaned or abandoned, so some adoptive parents find this more "certain." The international adoption process varies markedly by country, so it is essential to work with a good agency that can help negotiate the systems both in this country and in the country of adoption. Children of all ages and races are available from many different countries, most commonly in Asia, Latin America, and the former Soviet Union. |