Index IntroductionResponses to InfertilityConclusionIntroductionThe desire to have a child is a basic human need. The innate desire to propagate one's kind is driven by culture. Having children in most cases is associated with a number of social pressures. For example, after marriage, family and friends expect the couple to start a family. Furthermore, there is the desire to have an heir to inherit the family assets. In many societies, there is a sense that children are a blessing while none of them are a curse. In most cases, women who cannot have children due to infertility have been divorced or their husbands have resorted to remarriage. In this essay I provide an in-depth discussion of some of the responses to infertility. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay Responses to Infertility Adoption is a popular response to infertility in some cultures, especially Western countries, but not in others. Many couples who are unable to have children of their own derive considerable satisfaction from adoption. Therefore, many women who do not want to go through the pregnancy process can be convinced to carry the pregnancy to term and give the baby up for adoption instead of aborting it. This is especially true in the case of single, unmarried women who feel that carrying the pregnancy to term could destroy their personal life or who do not want to face the misfortune associated with having an illegitimate child. Such children can also be adopted prenatally, thus satisfying their desire to grow up (Van Balen, Verdurmen & Ketting, 1997). This can happen from the husband (AIH) or from a donor (AID). In AIH the offspring has gametes from both parents while in AID the husband is not the true parent. In this case it is prudent to obtain the consent of both parties before carrying out the procedure. The husband acquires legal rights and obligations as the natural father. The documents must be kept confidential and are not subject to inspection by anyone except by order of the court for good cause. Through the process of artificial insemination, infertile couples who are unable to conceive through natural means are given the opportunity to father, father, and even raise their children (Pfeffer, 1987). In in vitro fertilization, the egg is fertilized and incubated outside the body (in the laboratory). The fertilized blastocyst is then transferred to the uterus. This method and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were initially adopted in patients with infertility due to damaged, blocked or absent fallopian tubes. However, the method has been extended to many other infertility conditions and even where no anatomical abnormalities are present. This procedure allows people such as married couples with health problems, single women, homosexuals to have the opportunity to raise children (Van Balen, Verdurmen & Ketting, 1997). This method is used in cases of infertility not related to fallopian tube problems. It is used in conditions of failure to release the egg, collection of the egg by the fimbria, impaired tubal transport of sperm and other similar conditions. Here the ovary is stimulated to produce a large number of eggs. They are collected by laroscopic aspiration and inserted into the fallopian tubes together with the washed sperm. GIFT procedures put the oocytes in direct contact with the spermatozoa (Palermo, 1992). Surrogacy means using another woman's womb to obtain a child because the wife is unable to bear children. The Warnock Committee (UK).