Suwa Maternity Clinic (SMC) has provided pre-adoption consultation to infertile couples since the consultation section for patients (Kounotori Sōdan-shitsu) was opened in the hospital in 2003. In this research, we analyzed cases of consultation to evaluate the significance of adoption-related information and support activities to sterile couples by medical organizations. We collected the treatment histories of couples who had sought pre-adoption consultation from their medical records which were kept by SMC. We explained the purpose of our research and obtained their consent to cooperate by telephone, and conducted a survey by e-mail asking them about their experience of adoption and their current circumstances. SMC provided consultation to 32 couples over 14 years. Nineteen couples adopted 21 children through the special adoption system (tokubetsu yōshi engumi). Fourteen out of the 19 began adoption procedures while they were undertaking infertility treatments, and 5 couples began after giving up treatment. The age of the adopted children when they started to live with adoptive parents ranged from 0 days to 23 months old ; 15 children were less than 7 days old. The adoptions of 11 children were coordinated by a public organization, the local Child Consultation Center (Jidō Sōdan-sho), while those of 10 were coordinated by private adoption agencies. SMC set up networking opportunities for adoptive families. We conclude that pre-adoption consultation at medical organizations for treatment of sterility is meaningful for the well-being of adopted children as well as infertile couples who have given up treatment.

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