As we continue to support National Infertility Awareness Week 2019 our focus today is on secondary infertility, which is as worthy of support as primary infertility.
For some women, infertility issues can arise after they have already had a child. Secondary infertility is the inability to conceive or have a full-term pregnancy after having had children without difficulty before.
Secondary Infertility is actually quite common, with about 1 in 7 couples affected. Surprisingly, those who already have a baby are more likely to experience fertility issues than those trying for the first time.
However, when one looks at the common causes of secondary infertility perhaps it is not so surprising after all. The main contributors to secondary infertility are largely the same as primary infertility (failure to conceive without having had children previously).
- Female age: women over 35 are more likely to experience secondary infertility, in just the same way that women of this age are likely to experience primary infertility
- Male age: men aged over 50 may experience lower sperm count and lower sperm quality
- Female health conditions: polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, fibroids and blocked/scarred fallopian tubes can all be factors in secondary infertility
- Lifestyle factors: high alcohol consumption, smoking and obesity can all negatively contribute to the condition
But sadly, couples experiencing secondary infertility tend to receive far less social support than couples with primary infertility. This is because it can be perceived that the couple already has a child and should be grateful! But the need for support should not be ignored. A couple can be extraordinarily thankful for their existing child and still long for more children particularly when they want to produce a sibling for their first child.
With this in mind, a diagnosis of secondary infertility can be quite isolating for the couples experiencing it, as they are often reluctant to seek social support. For instance they may feel distant from family and friends and don’t feel like they have ready access to people who can empathise with their frustration and isolation.
Physicians can also sometimes unwittingly be guilty of downplaying the possibility of secondary infertility in previously fertile patients, encouraging them to just keep on trying, which only deepens the couple’s sense of failure.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way. RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association in the US, offers clear advice on secondary infertility, which is also useful in other countries:
- ‘Advocate for your infertility’: If you and your partner have been actively trying to conceive for over a year, or you are over 35 and have been actively trying for over 6 months, then consider a consultation with an appropriate specialist
- ‘Don’t wait’: If you are over 30 and have a history of pelvic inflammatory disease, painful periods, miscarriage, irregular cycles, or if you know that your partner has a low sperm count, do not wait. Consider a consultation with a specialist NOW
- ‘You are not alone’: There are many others out there who are facing the same struggles and complex feelings associated with secondary infertility. Seek support by connecting with a support and advice group like RESOLVE. For the steps you are about to take, many have gone before and can offer you advice as you step forward
It is also worth bearing in mind the fact that a woman with secondary infertility undergoing IVF is statistically more likely to get pregnant than a woman who hasn’t had a baby before.
Please click here for further information.
