Secondary infertility is the failure to conceive after at least one year of trying, despite having conceived children in the past without any problems. Primary infertility gets more attention, however secondary infertility is just as common as primary infertility.
According to data collected by the Center for Disease Control, approximately 11% of couples who already have one or more children wind up experiencing secondary infertility. Amazingly, that’s close to four million families, or nearly half of all infertility cases.
Thinking that infertility could never happen to them, a couple experiencing secondary infertility may put off seeking help for their problems getting pregnant. Most reproductive specialists recommend waiting no longer than six months for women over 35, or no longer than a year for women younger than 35, before seeking help and treatment. Unfortunately, delaying testing and treatment may mean a lower treatment success rate, as some causes of infertility worsen with time.
Secondary infertility is caused by the same problems that lead to primary infertility. Those causes include:
- Male infertility due to low or absent sperm count, problems with sperm movement (also known as sperm motility), or problems with sperm shape (also known as sperm morphology).
- Problems with ovulation, whether irregular ovulation or anovulation.
- Endometriosis
- Blocked fallopian tubes
- Fibroids
- Recurrent miscarriage
About one-third of infertility cases are related to female infertility, another third are related to male infertility, and the other third are related to problems in both the man and woman or are cases that remain unexplained.
Many couples wonder why they are having trouble this time around, when they didn’t have trouble in the past. It’s a good question, but may or may not have an answer. You may need to consider the following:
- Age, especially if you were a lot younger when you had your first child, or you had a late start to your family building.
- Endometriosis or growing fibroids, which may worsen over time.
- Considerable weight gain since your first child.
While these are possible reasons to consider, it is important to note that there just may be no obvious reasons why you can’t conceive this time as compared to last time.
Testing for secondary infertility is the same as testing for primary infertility. Both the man and woman need to see a reproductive specialist for testing.
Treatments for secondary infertility are the same as for primary infertility, and may include:
- Fertility drugs
- IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)
- IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) – Sometimes combined with other assisted reproductive options
- Laparoscopic surgery for removal of endometriosis deposits or fibroids
- Laparoscopic surgery to repair blocked fallopian tubes
Since couples experiencing secondary infertility already have at least one child, their struggle is often ignored by friends, family, other couples experiencing primary infertility, and sometimes even doctors. On the other hand, sometimes when you’re experiencing secondary infertility and need infertility treatment, friends or family may wonder out loud why you are “going to extremes”. Some may even insist that since you’ve had a child in the past, you must be able to have one naturally now. You may even be given advice such as “Stop trying and just relax – that’s all it takes.”
Be assured that your need for treatment is the same as someone with primary infertility. It is certainly not an “extreme measure” to use infertility treatments that may help you have the child you desire. If you have not been successful in your attempts to conceive, it is time to consider seeking more specialized assistance at an infertility clinic. The reproductive specialists and staff at the Center of Reproductive Medicine are well known for their high level of success in helping couples to conceive. At CORM, our professional staff is committed to providing the highest quality reproductive medicine, ensuring the best care possible is given to every patient/couple undergoing infertility treatment.