Adoption is a $30-$60K process to embark upon and often takes years, featuring many potential roadblocks - the recent Russian decision for example shuts the door to many couples who've been waiting for months or years on waiting lists. Domestic adoption is a complex process also.

Assuming our upcoming donor cycle fails, adoption will be our final alternative. We are in our mid-40s now.

Fostering is always in need of more folks. It's not quite the same, but it's an option.

It varies a lot based on how picky you are with your choice of child. That said, a quick and easy adoption of the most available child is more likely to be followed by a life time of having a less healthy child, for various kinds of health issue.

That said, I think it is good communitarian practice to be involved in at least one adoption, as a parent or sibling. There are so many abandoned or abused kids who deserve better than what they have.