Although some infertile couples remain childless or adopt, others pursue their desires for biological children more fervently. Factors influencing the decision to pursue fertility treatments include family, cultural, and women's reproductive histories; financial and material resources; marital status; political and legal [Page 755]conditions; medical options; the physical and mental health of women and those close to them; religious beliefs; views on adoption; and internal and external pressures to become parents. Further, physicians often pair infertility diagnoses with optimistic treatment prognoses and generally the middle class embraces medical discourse, irrespective of race and education. This article outlines available treatment options, usage and success rates, and personal and societal implications of fertility treatments.

Treatment Options

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