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Secondary Infertility: Definition and Possible Causes

Secondary Infertility: Definition and Possible Causes

Updated 24 April 2020

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Reviewed by Anna Klepchukova, Flo chief medical officer, UK

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Let’s find out what is secondary infertility, what causes it, and when should you get examined if you suspect it.

What is secondary infertility?

If a couple has decided to get pregnant again and have not been using birth control for six months (if aged over 35) or a year or more (if aged under 35), but conception hasn’t occurred, this may indicate secondary infertility.

In this case, the fact that they had a previous conception is important. The fact that the first pregnancy ended up in childbirth, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, missed miscarriage, or abortion doesn’t matter.

Many couples have difficulty accepting the idea that they have conception issues, especially when there have been no such problems in the past, which is why they keep delaying going for a checkup.

Secondary infertility is diagnosed and treated in the same way as primary infertility. If you are concerned about it, be sure to consult a doctor.

Secondary infertility causes

The partners’ sexual health may have been affected by new factors, such as:

in both partners: STDs, undergone surgeries, hormonal changes, age
in women: inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis and other gynecological diseases, abortions, menstrual cycle and ovulation disorders
in men: reduced quality of sperm

After the age of 35, women experience a gradual decline in fertility and men have fewer actively motile sperm.

If conception doesn’t occur within six months (if aged over 35) or a year (if aged under 35), the couple should undergo an examination.