Some couples may suffer from secondary infertility despite having a previous child, what are the reasons? How is the treatment done? Secondary infertility is the most common form of female infertility, and it may sound confusing and suspicious, but what is meant by secondary infertility? What is secondary infertility? Secondary infertility is the inability to conceive a child or complete a full pregnancy again after a previous childbearing.
It is usually diagnosed after trying to conceive for six months to a year without success, and to be considered as secondary infertility, a previous birth must have occurred without the help of fertility drugs or treatments, such as IVF.
Also related is recurrent pregnancy loss where a couple is able to conceive but it cannot continue. Secondary infertility can be caused by either the man or the woman. Treatment options can include either medications to induce ovulation, artificial insemination, or surgery.
Causes of secondary infertility
Secondary infertility is often caused by the same problems that lead to primary infertility, which include:
Infertility in men, which may be due to a decrease in the number of sperm or complete loss, or problems with the shape of the sperm, or problems with its movement.
Problems with ovulation, which may include irregular or no ovulation.
Fallopian tube blockage.
Endometriosis.
Fibroids in the uterus.
Recurrent miscarriage.
Immunological problems, which could include a problem with natural killer cells or anti-sperm antibodies.
Hostile cervical mucus.
Endometrial problems.
adhesions or scarring of the uterus
Unexplained reasons.
Secondary infertility treatment
Treatment of secondary infertility begins by identifying its causes first, so the doctor may recommend some tests and examinations, which may include the following:
Blood tests to check a woman''s hormone levels.
Ovulation tests.
Pelvic examination.
X-rays to examine the fallopian tubes.
Transvaginal ultrasound.
Other tests to check the uterus and cervix.
In the event that these tests and previous examinations do not indicate the presence of any problem in the woman, the doctor may suggest examining male infertility tests.
Once the cause is known, the doctor can develop a treatment plan to increase the chances of pregnancy. Here are some common treatments for infertility in women:
1. Medications
Medicines that help bring hormones to normal levels are often used.
But other times your doctor may recommend fertility-enhancing medications to help stimulate ovulation.
Since PCOS is a common cause of infertility, it''s worth noting that treatment may include ovulation-stimulating medications as well as lifestyle modification, such as achieving a healthy weight if weight is the problem.
2. Surgery
In some cases surgery may be needed.
There are many effective surgical procedures that may treat some problems, such as: uterine fibroids, uterine scarring, or advanced endometriosis, and many of these procedures can be performed with minimal invasiveness.
3. Advanced Reproductive Technology (ART)
A successful pregnancy may require treatment with advanced reproductive technology, the most common of which are:
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) in which sperm is collected and then ed into the uterus at the time of ovulation.
The artificial insemination process, in which the woman’s eggs and sperm are collected, then the egg is fertilized with sperm in the laboratory where it develops into embryos, then one or more embryos are implanted in the woman’s uterus.
