If you have been trying to conceive and it hasn’t been working so far, you might naturally be getting quite worried or impatient about it. The truth is that this is very common, and it might not actually be that there is anything wrong. But in any case, it is going to be helpful to know what your options are, so that you can hope to approach it in the right way and make the most of it.
This is a collaborative post
In this post, we are going to discuss some of the options you have for having a baby if you are trying to conceive.
Assisted Reproductive Technology
This is one of the main things that you will need to consider if you are keen to have a baby and natural conception hasn’t been forthcoming. With assisted reproductive technology, you are going to be getting help with the process. That may be in the form of fertility medication to help stimulate ovulation, or it might be something like IVF – expensive and uncertain, but always a possibility. It could also be sperm or embryo donation, which is often used when there are fertility challenges with one or both partners.
Surrogacy
Surrogacy is when another person carries a baby on your behalf, and is another quite popular way for couples to have a baby. This can be done in a number of ways; it can be your own eggs and sperm, or through donor eggs and sperm. It’s often chosen by people with medical issues that prevent carrying a pregnancy. Alternatively, it’s a good choice often used by same-sex couples who want to have a baby. So as you can imagine, it’s a very helpful option to consider for a lot of people in a lot of circumstances.
Adoption
Of course, if you decide that you want a child and want to grow a family, adoption is always an option too. You might try adoption because nothing else has worked, but it is not always a last resort – some couples just like the idea of adopting, in which case there is nothing wrong with this. It is a long process in most cases and you’ll find that you probably need to go through a lot of hoops in order to make it work, so be prepared for that. But it’s a great way to care for a child who is already in the world and needs some parents.
Living Child-Free
In all of this, it’s worth remembering that it is also possible to choose not to have children. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, and it’s just up to you whether or not you want to do that. The point is never to feel pressured into having children – you should make the decision based on what you personally really want, and that is the only thing that matters. Many people live happy lives without children, so remember that and make whatever decision is right for you.
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