What is Secondary Infertility, and Why Does it Happen?

If a couple has decided to become parents once more and has not used birth control for six months (if over age 35), but conception has not taken place, this may be a sign of secondary infertility.

If becoming pregnant the first time was simple; you might have assumed that getting pregnant the second time would be no different. That's not always the case, though, as secondary infertility affects a lot of couples.

Similar to primary infertility, secondary infertility can be identified and treated. Confer a physician if you have any worries about it. In this post, let's examine this issue in greater detail and see why it might occur.

What is Secondary Infertility?

Women are suffering from secondary infertility risk getting pregnant after successfully conceiving once earlier. It is the incapability to get expectant and bring it to an entire period. Infertility is secondary only if your prior pregnancy happened naturally, without the support of any fertility therapies and medicines.

On the opposite, primary infertility is the incapacity to get pregnant after 6-12 months of attempting over the years of 35. Secondary infertility might transpire in both men and women, and the reasons for the condition are identical to that of primary infertility.

Furthermore, numerous couples have dilemmas accepting the statement that they have conception problems, mainly when there have been no such issues in the past. It is why they keep postponing going for a medical checkup. So if you are worried about it, assure you to talk to a doctor as soon as possible.

Causes of Secondary Infertility

Some common causes of secondary infertility include:

Clogged Fallopian Tubes

Blockage can happen in the fallopian tubes because of sexually transferred infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia. This blockage restricts the fertilization of the egg and the sperm and thus causes infertility.

Amount and Quality of Eggs

In women, fertility drops after 35-40 years of age. The count of eggs will reduce, and the remaining eggs may not possess good quality. It can generate chromosomal issues.

Also, most younger females can hold poor-quality eggs because of autoimmune or genetic disturbances.

Destroyed Reproductive Organs

Diseases like fibroids and endometriosis can render deterioration of your reproductive organs. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid conditions also produce inadequate levels of progesterone and cause irregular menstrual cycles, issues in ovulation, and infertility.

Age

Successful pregnancies are less likely to occur due to mother aging. Women's fertility decreases as they get older. In addition, women are susceptible to health issues that may lessen their ability to get pregnant.

Difficulties with the Uterus

Numerous conditions connected to the uterus can drive secondary infertility. Scarring can arise during a dilation and curettage (D&C) or Cesarean delivery, developing bondings inside the uterus that hamper future pregnancies.

Further, fibroids or polyps are non-cancer growths inside the uterus that could degrade pregnancy. A maintained placenta can provoke illness and uterine scarring.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is an ailment where tissue that typically develops inside the uterus evolves elsewhere in the body, like on the ovaries or bowel areas. While endometriosis is standard, not all endometriosis drives infertility.

Breastfeeding

When a mother exclusively breastfeeds her child, her body ceases ovulating and secreting eggs for prospective conception.

Autoimmune Diseases

The connection between autoimmune diseases and infertility isn’t understood. Generally,  autoimmune conditions render your body to attack healthy tissues. It could concern reproductive tissues, also.

Autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto’s, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis might impact fertility by driving inflammation in your uterus and placenta. And medications that cure these disorders might contribute as well.

Unexplained Causes

No woman likes to hear this, but tragically, there are situations when doctors cannot identify a diagnosable cause for secondary infertility. We know it is simple to lose hope after numerous treatments, tests, and attempts.

Though please remember that your body can adjust, new medical wisdom can appear, and the future might hold everything you expect. Thus operate with your physician to leave no rock unturned along your voyage to conceive.

Weight Gain & Lifestyle Changes

Some patients may develop ovarian dysfunction due to weight gain. Dietary choices, harmful drugs, alcohol, and smoking may impact your fertility.

Treatment for Secondary Infertility

Medications 

Your doctor might recommend you make some lifestyle changes if you have successfully conceived earlier. Also, the doctor may prescribe some drugs like clomiphene and letrozole to enhance your ovulation. 

Medicines are usually used to standardize hormones. Additional times, fertility-enhancing medications is recommended to aid stimulate ovulation.

Since PCOS is such a typical cause of infertility, it’s worth noting that treatment might concern medications to assist stimulate ovulation in addition to lifestyle changes, such as gaining a healthy weight if your physician decides weight is an element.

Surgery

If the above solution does not work well, your fertility specialist can advise you on the correct treatment. Surgeries like in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI) might assist you to conceive a baby. These treatment alternatives include higher success rates but are expensive and invasive.

In rare cases, you might require effective surgical processes to cure issues such as uterine fibroids, uterine scarring, or developed endometriosis. Most such procedures are conducted minimally invasively.

In addition, Hysteroscopy is utilized to diagnose and treat anomalies of your uterus, such as polyps and endometriosis. Laparoscopy is a technique to aid diagnose infertility when other standards have been unsuccessful and can be employed with hysteroscopy as an effective therapy.

Tips to Cope with the Grief of Secondary Infertility

• Talk to your partner about how you are feeling about infertility and plan about moving on and working together.
• Do not accuse your spouse as infertility is in no one’s hands.
• Concentrate on what you can maintain, like keeping self-care in mind to handle stress and live a nutritious lifestyle.
• Communicate your stories with other females with similar experiences and know what treatment they have taken for successful pregnancies.
• Be in touch with your doctor about the following steps. Ask your physician about several prospects for successful pregnancies and understand your chances of conceiving.

The Takeaway

Anyone affected by secondary infertility, including you, your spouse, and loved ones, might suffer physically and psychologically. It's crucial to discuss all of your worries, challenges, and objectives with your doctor.

You can then be directed to the resources that will help you with your desire to conceive once more. Keep going; it's okay to cry, too; rely on your support systems; seek out motivating success stories, and never give up.

Correspondingly, if you discover this helpful blog and have questions, you can link with Antenate and speak to our Gynochologist and Fertility Connoisseur, Dr. Shesha Sinha.