Egg donor
Secondary Infertility
What is secondary infertility?
Secondary infertility is the inability to conceive a child or carry a pregnancy after a live birth which has been occurred naturally. It refers to the same or similar symptoms and causes as primary infertility.
What are the causes of secondary infertility?
- Male infertility. Sperm quality may change due to lifestyle changes, infections, injuries, surgeries, or medical treatments.
- Ovulation disorders. They can be caused by lifestyle changes, polycystic ovary syndrome, primary ovarian failure, decreased ovarian reserve associated with advanced age, thyroid dysfunction, or other endocrine disorders.
- Conditions of the uterus or the fallopian tubes. Endometriosis, uterine fibroids, endometrial polyps can affect the ability to conceive naturally.
- Infections
- Autoimmune disorders
- Age. Ovarian storage seems to decrease significantly after the age of 35 in all women without, of course, precluding normal conception, while at the same time the risk of miscarriage increases, due to increased number of chromosomally abnormal eggs.
- Weight gain can affect ovulation and lead to recurrent miscarriages.
- Complications of a previous pregnancy. Pelvic infection can cause adhesions in the uterus and obstruction of the fallopian tubes. This can occur either after a natural birth or after a caesarean section.
What tests should be performed by a couple if secondary infertility is suspected?
Prevention is the best treatment approach, so it is important for the couple to get tested. The physician will review the woman’s medical history to determine if there are any changes in her health from a previous pregnancy or menstrual irregularities. Furthermore, hormonal tests will be performed, if necessary, as well as an ultrasound scan of the female reproductive system and a semen analysis.
What is the treatment for secondary infertility?
There are several treatment options, depending on the couple’s specific fertility profile.
More specifically:
- Lifestyle modifications, avoidance of alcohol, tobacco, and processed foods.
- Tubal patency check if there is an underlying factor (cesarean section, abdominal surgery, infections etc.) that could possibly lead to tubal blockage.
- Oral medications such as the clomiphene citrate and the aromatase inhibitors (letrozole) to induce the ovulation if the sperm analysis is normal. Administration of injectable gonadotropins in combination with the oral medications could be considered as well.
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI). It refers to the laboratory procedure in which the rapidly moving sperm is separated and placed in the woman’s uterus during ovulation.
- In vitro fertilization, which can speed up the conception process and also functions as a diagnostic method, in which unknown causes of infertility can be identified.
Contact the specialized gynecologist-obstetrician Dr. Melina Stasinou for an individualized treatment, who will suggest you the best available options and a specific treatment plan for you.
