If you are thinking about adoption, fostering or surrogacy, it may help to:
- talk about it with family or friends
- talk to someone who has become a parent in this way
- find out more from a support organisation.
Make sure you get all the support and information you need to make the right decision for you.
If you cannot or do not want to use medical treatment to help you have a child, you could think about adoption or fostering.
Adoption means becoming the legal parent of a child. Fostering means looking after a child who is not able to stay with their own family. This might be short-term or long-term.
People from all backgrounds can apply to become a parent in these ways. Sexuality, gender and disability should not matter. And you do not have to be in a relationship or married.
Adoption and fostering can be rewarding ways to have a child. An organisation or local authority can arrange this. If you want to find out more, ask:
- your social worker, if you have one
- your local social services department – you can look online for details or ask your GP
- an organisation such as CoramBAAF or Adoption UK.
Surrogacy is where a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a baby for you. She is called the surrogate (or host). The pregnancy may be started using IUI or IVF.
There are different reasons people may choose surrogacy. For example, women who cannot carry a pregnancy can use surrogacy to have a baby using their own eggs or embryos. Men may think about using surrogacy if they are single, in a same-sex relationship, or if their female partner cannot carry a pregnancy.
Surrogacy laws in the UK are complicated. Organisations such as Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy (COTS), Surrogacy UK and Brilliant Beginnings can give you more information and support with surrogacy.
Fertility useful organisations
There are lots of other organisations that can give you information or support about fertility.
Questions about cancer and fertility
This sections contains information to try and answer some common questions about fertility and cancer.
Fertility and your feelings
Being asked to think about the future when you have just been diagnosed with cancer can be hard. Having children may not be something you are thinking about yet.
Cancer, sex and relationships
This information is about cancer, sex and relationships. It is for teenagers and young people who are having or have had cancer treatment. It may also help carers, family members and friends.
Living beyond cancer
Many children, teenagers and young adults are treated successfully for cancer. There are now over 45,000 survivors of childhood cancer in the UK who are supported with specialist health care and advice.
Late effects
All cancer treatments are different and affect people in different ways. Most people have some side effects during treatment. But some people also have late effects of treatment.