PARENTS
Making Sense of Secondary Infertility
If getting pregnant again is a struggle, you’re not alone.
Written by
Happiest Baby Staff
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PARENTS
Written by
Happiest Baby Staff
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You already have a child and want to get pregnant again, but so far it has not been happening. It might come as a surprise to you because you were successful before—so why does getting pregnant this time around seem so much harder? Unfortunately, having one child is no guarantee you will get pregnant easily again. This is struggle is known as secondary infertility.
Recent research has suggested that secondary infertility is the most common form of infertility in women in the world—so as difficult and isolating an experience as secondary infertility can be, it is safe to say, you are not alone.
There are two types of infertility people can experience: primary and secondary. Primary infertility is when you have not been able to get pregnant or carry a baby to term. Secondary infertility means you have already had one or more successful pregnancies but are having trouble getting pregnant again. About 12% of people have infertility issues, which is defined as trying for at least a year to get pregnant—or six months if you have certain health conditions or are over 35.
Most of causes of primary fertility are the same ones that can strike when you have already had a child. These can include:
The general rule of thumb is to talk to your provider if you have been trying to get pregnant again for more than a year—or for six months if you are over 35 or have a pre-existing condition linked to infertility. Your doctor will want to get a medical history from you including how your last pregnancy and delivery went and any concerns with your menstrual cycle. At some point they may refer you to a specialist like a reproductive endocrinologist. You might have a physical exam and testing done such as a hysterosalpingogram, which is an X-ray of your uterus to check for any abnormalities. Blood work to check your hormone levels can give your provider a sense of your fertility status and how well your ovaries are functioning. If you have a male partner, he may have testing as well with a semen analysis, as 35% of couples have both male and female factors that cause infertility.
The treatments for infertility are the same regardless of whether you are grappling with primary or secondary infertility.
Secondary infertility might stir up a lot of emotions as you simultaneously juggle the grief that comes with struggling to conceive, the gratitude for already having a child, and maybe even a little guilt. Fortunately, there is a lot of support out there for parents who are wrestling with secondary infertility. Members of the infertility community have also taken to social media to share their stories, act as virtual sounding boards and shoulders to cry on...and shaking all stigma in the process. A simple hashtag search can pull up influential voices on Instagram, and Facebook has a variety of groups dedicated to infertility. Not everyone is comfortable talking about their fertility journey, but seeking out people who have had similar experiences can help you cope with the emotional and mental worries you might be experiencing. Most of all, it can help you realise that you are not alone.
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
