Causes of Secondary Infertility

There are quite a few causes of secondary infertility that a doctor can help diagnose. Often, men and women can seek effective treatment for their secondary infertility and go on to have another child.

Continue reading to find out:

• Causes of secondary infertility in women
• Causes of secondary infertility in men
• How to have a second child through surrogacy

Beyond treatments for secondary infertility, we want to tell you that no matter what type of infertility diagnosis you experience and how you respond to treatment, you can still become a parent through surrogacy.

You can contact us today to learn more about how people like you have gone on to start or grow their families through different family-building options. But, continue reading to learn more about secondary infertility causes.

Causes of Secondary Infertility

A few specific things signify you’re experiencing secondary infertility.

• People diagnosed with secondary infertility have already had one child without any issues.
• A diagnosis is possible after regular, unprotected sex with your partner for a year if you’re younger than 35 and six months if you’re older than 35.

Causes of Secondary Infertility in Women

When a woman is experiencing secondary infertility, a doctor will look for these common causes.

• Patient age: Women over 35 experience declining fertility as they age.
• Egg quality and quantity: If a woman is younger than 35, her eggs could be affected by an autoimmune condition, genetic condition, previous surgery, or radiation.
• Endometriosis: This condition can cause the tissue that grows inside the uterus to grow outside the uterus, sometimes in the ovaries, etc. It does not always cause infertility.
• Challenges with the fallopian tubes: The tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus can become blocked due to infections.
• Challenges in the uterus: Issues can arise if there is scarring from fibroids or a C-section.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): This hormonal disorder can cause irregular periods and other issues with the ovaries.
• Lifestyle choices: Certain medications can cause infertility, and weight fluctuation can affect a person’s infertility.
• Sperm antibodies: Some women have sperm antibodies that make getting pregnant difficult.

Causes of Secondary Infertility in Men

A man might experience secondary infertility because of the following common reasons.

Challenges with Sperm

There are a few conditions that can affect sperm viability and effectiveness.

Issues with Sperm Count

Certain medications, a blocked duct, and low testosterone levels can affect a man’s sperm count.

Abnormalities with Sperm

Sperm can have an abnormal shape or mobility issues.

Azoospermia

This condition means a man cannot produce viable sperm.

Sperm Antibodies

Men also can have sperm antibodies that affect sperm.

A man’s secondary infertility also can be caused by:

• Age: A man’s semen quality decreases after age 40.
• Prostate challenges: Prostate removal or enlargement can affect sperm flow or count and restrict ejaculation.
• Weight gain: According to WebMD, “The chances of infertility increase by 10% for every 20 additional pounds a man gains.”
• Late-onset hypogonadism: A condition that can reduce male hormone secretion.

Secondary Infertility Grief

No matter the causes of secondary infertility, couples experiencing secondary infertility grief often blame themselves for not being able to have a second child. It isn’t easy to accept that your fertility has changed since your first child. But, the truth is that secondary infertility is not your fault, and you did nothing wrong.

If your doctor has diagnosed you with secondary infertility and you’re unable to conceive again, take all the time you need to grieve and accept this reality. Although you can still become a parent through other family-building options like surrogacy, you and your partner should make sure you’re on the same page before moving forward.

Even if you determine you’re not quite ready to start a surrogacy journey right now, you can contact a surrogacy professional to get infertility counselor and support group references.

Surrogacy Basics

All surrogacies include a surrogate who carries your baby, you (the intended parent/s), and a surrogacy agency.

The surrogate undergoes IVF to get pregnant. The embryo your doctor places in the surrogate’s uterus is either created with your and your partner’s gametes or donor gametes — which means the surrogate is not genetically related to the baby.

Your surrogacy agency will be there to guide from start to finish, ensuring you have a smooth, successful journey.

Benefits of Working with a Surrogacy Agency

You can pursue surrogacy on your own, but working with a surrogacy agency makes the entire experience better.

The following are just a few of the benefits you will get when you work with a surrogacy agency:

• A surrogacy professional who will help you through every step of the surrogacy journey
• Additional surrogacy professional references
• Surrogate match-making
• Financial protection
• And more

Continuing on Your Parenthood Journey

There are many secondary infertility causes that a doctor can diagnose and treat. If you decide to pursue parenthood again with the help of a surrogate, contact a surrogacy professional for assistance. They can ensure your entire journey goes smoothly and that you get support along the way.