Infertility is the inability to naturally conceive, carry or deliver a healthy child. The International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination (INCIID) considers a couple to be infertile if they have not conceived "after a year of unprotected intercourse in women under 35, or after six months in women over 35", or if they are incapable of carrying a pregnancy to term.

Adoption is the legal act of permanently placing a child with a parent or parents other than the birth parents. Adoption usually results in the severing of the parental responsibilities and rights of the biological parents and the placing of those responsibilities and rights onto the adoptive parents. After the finalization of an adoption, there is no legal difference between biological and adopted children. Different jurisdictions have varying laws on adoption and post-adoption. Some practis...