Review : A right to parenthood

Many people regard parenthood as a 'right' to which they are entitled; this right is open to debate. Infertility can provoke a life-crisis leading to profound feelings of grief, loss and isolation. Each of us, as members of society, must acknowledge the pressure that we place upon individuals to parent, and particularly upon women. Fertility nurses in particular may be caught in the middle of a potentially enormous conflict of interests between the needs and desires of patients and the service provided by the NHS. Child health nurses need to be aware that infertility and the process of fertility treatment may have a significant impact on the parents' relationship with a child born as a result of treatment.