Major Causes of Secondary Infertility

Major Causes of Secondary Infertility 

Term infertility is widely understandable terms for those who are trying to have their first child. Many couples believe that as they already had a child they should have no problem having a second or third child. But this is not always true, secondary infertility is also a very true thing and many as around three million women faced a hard time falling pregnant again. 

What is Secondary Infertility?

Secondary fertility is defined as the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy after the birth of her first or second child, without using any fertility treatment. A vast majority is suffering from secondary infertility. They not only face difficulty in growing their family but also find if hard face it and reach out for help. On top of that, many couples end by thinking that they should be content to the child or children they already help. Fortunately, secondary infertility treatment is possible for those who reach out for help to the fertility experts. 

What are the Causes of Secondary Infertility?

Dr. Mamtha C.V., infertility expert, from Indira Infertility and IVF, says, “Both men and woman health issues may lead to infertility. With the help of a fertility health check-up, physical exam and also checks are required to evaluate the causes of female infertility or male infertility”.

There can be a variety of secondary infertility causes, most of them are similar to the causes of primary infertility. Major issues that cause secondary infertility are:

Age: As we all know, fertility declines with age and the biggest decline starts after 35. By the age of 40, the chances of a woman’s getting pregnant naturally are less than 35%. Most of the women facing secondary infertility are around 35 or more and this makes them conceiving hard for them. 

Hormonal Issues: Hormonal imbalance, whether too high or too low, can cause problems with thyroid, pituitary gland or diagnosis of poly cystic ovary syndrome.

Weight: Being underweight or overweight can affect the hormones related to the reproductive system. This can stop your body from ovulating. 

Endometriosis: 40% of women with infertility have Endometriosis. It is a chronic disease that causes scarring, and this can block the Fallopian tubes. 

 

Scar Tissues from Prior Surgery: Many surgeries can leave scar tissue behind. These scar tissues can block the Fallopian tube. Due to this blockage sperms can’t reach the eggs for fertilization. Scar tissues can also cause scarring in the uterine wall, preventing a fertilized egg from successful implanting, causing infertility.

Male Infertility: Male spouse can also be the reason for secondary infertility. Men can have a semen analysis done to check the male infertility factor. One of the most common cause of infertility in men is Low sperm. 

What are the Treatments available for Secondary Infertility?

Similar to primary infertility, there are several secondary infertility treatments available. If you aren’t having regular menstrual cycles, or haven’t been able to conceive within six months-1 years of trying (depending on how old you are), you should schedule an appointment with a fertility expert. Your doctor will recommend you the best possible fertility treatment for you, mostly the treatment doctor offers is depend upon-     

1. The age of the female spouse

2. Previous miscarriage (if any)

3. The count and quality of male spouse’s sperm

Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART): Assisted reproductive techniques or ART are boon for every infertile couple. The recommended ART for couples struggling with secondary infertility is- IUI, IVF, ICSI, GIFT, and surrogacy. Your doctor will provide the best possible fertility treatment for secondary infertility according to your test reports. 

 

EndNote: 

In some cases, women dealing with secondary infertility treatment are more frustrated than women with primary infertility because they were able to conceive without any medical assistance in the past. Additionally, she doesn’t seek help early. This kind of couple thinks if this worked for them in the past it can happen again. Secondary infertility is stressful for both partners. In fact, they should seek help sooner than later to achieve a successful outcome. If you are struggling to give your child another sibling, you should visit a good fertility expert for better guidance. 

Report this Page