In spite of all the advances in infertility treatment, not every couple will be able to conceive and bear a child. Any couple asking for infertility treatment should be given a realistic idea of their chances. Adoption is a long process in the United States today, and there are age limits placed on adoptive parents. A physician who is treating an infertile couple should be sure that they are not offered false hope that limits or excludes the possibility of adoption. Patients should be reminded that they should preserve their options while the various therapies are tried.