Having more than one baby is the dream of many couples. The desire to have a complete family and sibling love brings along lots of excitement. But sometimes, a couple may find it difficult to conceive for a second time. So, is it secondary infertility? To know more, keep reading everything you need to know about secondary infertility, its causes, treatment, and more.

What Does Secondary Infertility Mean?

Any couple who have had one or more pregnancies before, whether successfully or not, and cannot conceive again are said to have secondary infertility. For example, you may have a prior pregnancy that was normal and healthy. However, a case of secondary infertility can occur after a couple tries to conceive for 6 to 12 months without success.

There can be many reasons which can lead to secondary infertility. But you must be wondering how common secondary fertility is. Well, according to the statistics, 11% of couples face secondary infertility alone in the USA.

So, if you find it hard to conceive after trying for a long time, you should consult a medical professional. Dr Sodhi’s Health Care at Mohali offers the best solutions for ruling out and solving infertility issues. Ruling out possible causes and treatment can help you experience motherhood again.

What are the Causes of Secondary Infertility?

There are numerous reasons which can lead to secondary infertility. It can be due to age or certain lifestyle issues. However, going to the right medical professional and working on all the causes can help you once again experience parenthood. Some of the most common causes of secondary infertility in females and males are:

In Females

Increasing age affects the quantity or quality of eggs: Every female needs to know that they are born with a fixed number of eggs. However, as the females approach their late 30s, the number declines, and remaining eggs may have a higher chance of chromosomal defects. Therefore, the decreased quality and quality of eggs can lead to secondary infertility.

Blockage in fallopian tubes: Blocked fallopian tubes are a common cause for secondary infertility. Commonly blockage occurs due to infections like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and tuberculosis or due to infection or trauma caused by an abortion procedure. The fallopian tube is the area where fertilisation occurs. So, ruling out this situation with tests and medication can help you conceive. Sometimes surgery may be required to open the blocked tubes which is usually done by laparoscopy these days.

Certain uterus conditions: The uterus carries the development of the foetus. However, problems like cysts, polyps, etc., can cause secondary fertility. Also, conditions from the last pregnancy, like dilation and curettage (D&C), caesarean delivery, or placenta infection, can be the reason too.

Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a state where tissue that typically grows inside the uterus grows elsewhere in the body. Endometriosis can cause distortion and scarring of the pelvic organs leading to infertility. Not all endometriosis causes infertility, so it’s important to judge it.

PCOD and PCOS: The failure to release eggs regularly due to hormonal imbalance can lead to PCOD and PCOS. It hinders fertility but can be cured. A thorough knowledge and complete guide to PCOD/PCOS can help you know more about the condition.

Lifestyle changes: Your sedentary practices, weight gain issues, smoking, alcohol consumption, and other unhealthy habits can lead to certain conditions and secondary infertility. Sometimes occupational hazards such as working in a very hot environments or dealing with toxic substances can lead to testicular damage & infertility in the male partner.

In Males

Age: The semen quality and sperm count may be affected after age 40.

Low testosterone levels: Testosterone plays a key role in producing sperm. However, ageing, injury or other medical conditions can cause a decline in its production.

Prostate issues: Prostate enlargement and removal may hinder the production of semen in males.

Late-onset hypogonadism: The reduced hormone secretion known as late-onset hypogonadism in males can cause secondary infertility.

Lifestyle causes:  Lifestyle diseases and habits like weight gain, smoking, drinking etc., are also responsible for secondary infertility.

The couples must consult the best fertility centres to rule out the reasons. Then, with some tests and guidance, you can experience parenthood again.

What to Expect During Diagnosis

If you face infertility issues after a successful pregnancy, your doctor may ask a few questions and run some tests. They may include:

• Knowledge about your menstruation in females
• Sperm quality test for males
• Blood test for hormonal issues
• There can be ultrasounds or other procedures to rule out the causes.

Treatments for Secondary Infertility

After asking concerned questions, running tests and making an advanced diagnosis, your doctor may give you possible solutions. First, however, you must know the importance of mental health while adopting fertility treatments. These treatments take time and ensure safe procedures. So, after a thorough discussion with your partner and doctor, you can opt for amazing options.

This may include:

Medications: Various medications can solve common issues related to infertility.

Surgery: There can be uterine fibroids, and uterine scarring, another condition which can be solved with advanced surgeries.

Advanced reproductive technology: Technology like intrauterine insemination (IUI), In vitro Fertilisation (IVF), and many other techniques fall under advanced reproductive technology. These are safe and can be viable options for experiencing parenthood.

Takeaways

Becoming a parent again is a blessing. With the right steps, like egg freezing in India, you can store your eggs and become a parent when you want. Also, staying active, eating healthy and satisfying your unhealthy food cravings with these healthy options can be beneficial.

Secondary infertility can be treated with timely actions. So, contact Dr Sodhi’s Health Care. It is one of the best Multispecialty Hospitals & IVF Centre In Mohali. We offer IVF, IUI, PESA, TESA, mTESE, egg and sperm donation, Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT), Cryopreservation, Laparoscopy & Hysteroscopy, Recurrent Miscarriage Clinic and a lot of others.

At Dr Sodhi’s Health Care, We will address all the issues that can cause secondary infertility and guide you with the best.