Secondary infertility applies to couples who are having problems conceiving after already having one successful pregnancy.
Many people do not realize that Secondary Infertility even exists. To the majority of folks, the fact that someone has conceived and had a successful pregnancy once seems to rule out any future threat of infertility.
Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Actually, Secondary Infertility is very common. In fact, Secondary Infertility accounts for approximately 60% of all infertility cases.
Based on findings from a 1995 survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, about 3.3 million women were suffering from Secondary Infertility in the United States alone.
This figure is a dramatic increase from a similar study conducted in 1988, which showed approximately 2.7 million American women as having Secondary Infertility.
What accounts for this significant increase in Secondary Infertility? Many in the scientific and medical community attribute the surge in infertility to increased chemical exposure and other environmental factors.
Be that as it may, what can be done to treat Secondary Infertility?
Statistically, couples with Secondary Infertility tend to receive infertility treatments or tests much less often than couples with Primary Infertility.
This is a mistake.
If you are experiencing Secondary Infertility, you should treat it as Primary Infertility and insist that your doctor does, as well. The same things that might cause Primary Infertility could have come into play since your first pregnancy and be causing your problems in conceiving now.
Both partners should receive infertility tests.
Abnormalities with male sperm and ejaculate are often the reason for Secondary Infertility.
There are other possible common causes for Secondary Infertility, including:
- Endometriosis
- Uterine Fibroids
- Uterine Polyps
- Pelvic Adhesions
- Problems with ovulation
When should you seek medical help and treatment for Secondary Infertility?
As a rule of thumb, if you are under 35 years old, you should wait until a year of unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant has passed. If you are 35 or older, you should only wait six months before seeing a fertility doctor.
Secondary Infertility can be an especially disheartening, frustrating thing and can be extremely stressful. But, there is much that can be done to help you conceive and have another happy, healthy pregnancy.
