DISCLAIMER: The following post is not intended to act as medical advice. As always, please consult your doctor with any questions about secondary infertility.
The thing about infertility is that it can happen whether you’re trying to grow your family for the first time or for the third. If you were able to conceive without reproductive support and now, as you try to grow your family again, you’re having difficulty, secondary infertility may be the reason why.
Our friends from Michigan Center for Fertility and Women’s Health are here to support you on your fertility journey. You might have caught their Fertility Friday series on our IG page–quick videos to answer common fertility questions. Below, they’re sharing about secondary infertility and what you might be able to expect if you’re navigating this journey.
What is secondary infertility?
Secondary infertility refers to those experiencing infertility issues after they’ve already previously conceived and given birth without the assistance of reproductive treatment or technologies.
How long do I need to wait before seeking support?
We use similar guidelines for primary infertility when diagnosing secondary infertility: if you are over 35 and have been trying to conceive for six months, or if you are under 35 and have been trying to conceive for one year. Of course, changes in your health status may impact these criteria.
For example, did your cycles change, or are they absent? Do you have a new medical diagnosis? Certain factors may indicate a reason for a consult sooner than the standard infertility definitions.
Why does secondary infertility occur?
Similarly to primary infertility, there are a variety of reasons why secondary infertility may occur. A common reason may be age. If you were younger, especially younger than 35 when conceiving your first child, it may be more challenging to conceive for the second time (especially if you are now over the age of 35). This can occur due to the natural decline in the number of eggs we have and the quality of those eggs.
Other possible causes may include anatomical changes, sperm changes, or new medical diagnoses, to name a few.
“I conceived before, so I definitely don’t need to go in to be seen…”
It can be a misconception that if you were able to conceive previously without reproductive support, you won’t need intervention the next time around. However, that’s not necessarily the case. Secondary infertility is not uncommon and certainly if you are meeting the criteria listed above, it may be worth making an appointment and getting a workup started. Determining if there is a cause for secondary infertility and treating it appropriately will help to achieve the goal of growing your family in a timely and efficient manner.
What can I expect at an appointment for secondary infertility?
An appointment for secondary infertility will look similar to an appointment for those experiencing infertility for the first time. A detailed history, including your prior conceptions and details associated with getting pregnant in the past, will be included. Based on the history, a work-up will be ordered followed by a follow-up to determine what options are best. This will allow us to establish a plan ideally suited for you.
