The psychological dimensions of infertility

Psychological reactions of childless couples applying to an adoption agency are examined. Infertility can be a developmental life crisis and may be experienced as a narcissistic trauma, resolution of which depends upon individual character structure. Intrapsychic tasks include acceptance and working though of grief for the loss of the self-ideal, restitution of body-image deficiency, and assessment of the importance of parenthood as a developmental phase. An adaptive resolution is seen as a necessary condition for successful adoptive parenting.