Infertility is a difficult and emotional condition that impacts as many as 1 in 8 couples in America. Though the standard definition is widely understood to refer to a couple who tries to conceive for at least a year but fails to become pregnant, there is actually another form of infertility that impacts a growing number of Americans. It is called situational infertility, and it’s every bit as emotional and challenging as standard infertility.

What Is Situational Infertility?

In general, the people who suffer from situational infertility are unable to become pregnant for reasons other than difficulty with conception. This means that though they may be in great health, unique circumstances within their lives make it unrealistic or impossible to get pregnant and have a baby.

Who Is Impacted By Situational Infertility?

There are many different groups of people that are familiar with the struggles- and potential solutions-  of situational infertility.

Single Men and Single Women: Many single women are eager to have children but have not yet found the right companion in order to become pregnant. Some women forge ahead on the path to parenthood by using a sperm donor and artificial insemination, while others choose to adopt. Some single men have the same desire to start a family but don’t have the same option of getting pregnant. Instead, a single man can have a biological child using a surrogate and an egg donor.

Gay and Lesbian Couples: Gay and lesbian couples face unique challenges when they want to start their own families. A lesbian couple can choose to adopt, utilize a sperm donor for a personal pregnancy, or use a sperm donor for a surrogate pregnancy. Since gay couples don’t have the option of carrying the baby themselves, their options are either adoption or surrogacy. Fortunately, the rights of gay and lesbian couples to be parents are quickly expanding, but some states still make it much too difficult, thus leading to situational infertility.

Living With a Chronic Illness: Even if somebody is technically capable of getting pregnant, other health issues might stand in the way. A chronic illness, for example, might make it impossible for a woman to stop taking a specific medication or receiving medical treatments throughout the duration of a pregnancy. Fortunately, the avenues of surrogacy and adoption are still open to this group of people.

Overall, situational infertility is an important societal issue to understand since it is becoming increasingly prevalent in communities across the country. Surrogacy and egg donation agencies like Open Arms Surrogacy and Egg Donation in Sarasota, Florida devote themselves to helping couples facing situational infertility so that they have every opportunity to build the family they deserve. Call Open Arms at (941) 741-4994 to learn more about the ways to resolve situational infertility using the help and guidance of the experts.