Infertility comes in many shapes and sizes and can be painful, frustrating and taxing regardless of the situation. For men and women who struggle to get pregnant after naturally conceiving, secondary infertility can be confusing and very difficult.
What is Secondary Infertility?
Secondary infertility is defined as “The inability to become pregnant or carry a baby to term after previously giving birth to a baby,” without fertility treatment. In other words, you were able to conceive naturally in the past, but now struggle becoming pregnant.
How Common is Secondary Infertility?
It is estimated that two-thirds of patients who present for a fertility evaluation have either had a child with another partner or together. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 11% of all couples that have had a birth before will experience secondary infertility. And, while it is not uncommon to deal with secondary infertility, the social support available to this group of individuals falls short compared to the support available to couples dealing with primary infertility. In the broader sense, because a couple already has a child, their desire to achieve a pregnancy can often times be overshadowed by the desire of couples who are childless. At Caperton Fertility Institute, we recognize that while a couple may be eternally grateful that they are already parents, this doesn’t minimize the longing to bring another life into the world. Our compassionate and caring fertility specialists and staff are determined to not only help individuals achieve their dreams of parenthood, but to also realize the goals to grow their family.
Why Does Secondary Infertility Happen?
There are a myriad of things that can impact fertility after naturally conceiving a child, many of which are the very same causes of primary fertility. Age can play a big role in this issue, specifically for women who are over the age of 38. Once a woman reaches this age, the rates of fertility begin to decline rapidly year-over-year, due to diminishing ovarian reserve and oocyte (egg) quality. Secondary infertility may also stem from endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, pelvic adhesions, endocrine and hormone issues, reduced sperm count or quality, and a myriad of environmental factors and lifestyle choices.
Is Secondary Infertility Treatable?
Absolutely. Facing secondary infertility is no different than primary infertility and with infertility treatments like IVF, IUI, and ICSI, having more children is a real possibility. Our protocols at Caperton Fertility are individualized to each patient. Dr. Lee and Kelly Caperton have helped thousands of patients conceive, many of whom have struggled with secondary infertility.
When Should I Seek Treatment for Secondary Infertility?
The national guideline for evaluation and treatment for infertility focus on the most important factor related to reproductive changes – the women’s age. If there are obvious risk factors for infertility (pelvic pain, irregular periods, a history of miscarriage or medical/endocrine issues, etc) a couple should be evaluated immediately. Otherwise, evaluation should be initiated at these points:
| Age of Female Partner | Time without Contraception |
| Less than 35 | > 1 year |
| 35 – 39 | > 6 months |
| > 40 years | 3 months |
At Caperton Fertility, we prescribe to these national guidelines. If you have been actively trying to conceive without the use of protection for these stated periods of time, please consider scheduling a consultation.
Infertility Awareness Week
April 22nd – 28th in National Infertility Awareness Week. While primary infertility is widely known, too many couples living with secondary infertility are suffering in silence. During this important week, remember to provide support to all people living with the pain and frustration of infertility.
It is important not to wait too long before seeking treatment for secondary infertility. While patience is a virtue, it can also work against you if you hold out to get the fertility treatments you might need. Couples are often left wondering “why could we get pregnant before, but not now”? This is a question they should be asking a board certified reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist (REI). At Caperton Fertility Institute we are here to help you overcome your battle with secondary infertility, and have the only board-certified REI in the region.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions related to this post by emailing info@capertonfertility.com.
Resources
- Katib, Atif Abdulhamid, Khalid Al–Hawsawi, Wael Motair, and Abdallah Makhloof Bawa. “Secondary Infertility and the Aging Male, Overview.” Central European Journal of Urology 67, no. 2 (June 23, 2014): 184-88. doi:10.5173/ceju.2014.02.art13.
- “National Infertility Awareness Week.” National Infertility Awareness Week. Accessed March 27, 2018. https://infertilityawareness.org/.
- Eraky, E.M., & El-Nasr, E.M. (2017). Risk Factors of Secondary Infertility among Women Attending Outpatient Clinic at Cairo University Hospital; Suggested Guideline. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/89bc/9d1fd093f58256e6b2a2d569f6aad7ebe7b0.pdf.
- “Secondary Infertility: Why Does It Happen?” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 8 Feb. 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infertility/expert-answers/secondary-infertility/faq-20058272.
- “Secondary Infertility.” RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, resolve.org/infertility-101/medical-conditions/secondary-infertility/.
- Shafi, H., Esmaeilzadeh, S., Delavar, M. A., Haydari, F. H., Mahdinejad, N., & Abedi, S. (2014). Prevalence of Varicocele among Primary and Secondary Infertile Men: Association with Occupation, Smoking and Drinking Alcohol. North American Journal of Medical Sciences, 6(10), 532–535. http://doi.org/10.4103/1947-2714.143285
- “Trying to Conceive After Age 35.” American Pregnancy Association. March 28, 2017. Accessed March 27, 2018. http://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/trying-to-conceive-after-age-35/.