Adoption
and Conception
Everyone
seems to have heard that adopting a child often leads to the adoptive couple
conceiving a child with no medical intervention. But is this truth or fiction?
As with most urban legends, this one contains a bit of both.
Consider
the fact that giving up a long struggle to conceive, coming to terms with
adoption, and the adoption itself, can all serve to ease the great mental and
physical strain of infertility. Stress is known to have a negative impact on
fertility. Relaxing because you have a baby in your arms is certain to aid in
your reproductive health.
Hormonal
Changes As A Response To Adopted Babies.
Meredith
Albright* found that as she anticipated her adopted child's arrival, she
stopped having her periods. This was three months prior to the baby moving in
with her. After the baby moved in, her periods came back and were regular for
the first time she could remember. There were also clear signs that Meredith
was ovulating. Research shows that hormonal changes can occur in non-birth
parents as a response to their adopted babies.
"You
Should Just Adopt."
But
don't rush into adoption for conception's sake. Some studies suggest that only
5% of adoptive couples go on to conceive children. This is a handy statistic to
tell those unkind people who tell you that, "You should just adopt."
However,
adoptive couples are forfeiting the experience of pregnancy, childbirth, and
breastfeeding. Besides, the cost of adoption can be up to three times the cost
of IVF. Newborn adoption is becoming a rare occurrence as the result of the
ease with which one can obtain a therapeutic abortion. In fact, in the United States,
from 1989-1995, only 1% of babies born to unmarried women were given up for
adoption. International adoption is not an option for most couples, since costs
run from around $10,000-$30,000 a child.
But
back to investing the truth behind such statements like: "Couples that do adopt tend to
conceive a child. This has happened to two married couples I know."
The
perception of what has happened, plus the knowledge of two specific instances
of such an occurrence, is not substantial proof that adoption leads to conception. This then leaves us with the original question: is the urban legend about how adoption leads to conception fact or fiction? Unfortunately, just as with most legends, we may never know the truth.
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