Some couples experience unexplained infertility after successfully carrying one or more biological children to term. This condition is known as secondary infertility and is caused by factors affecting one or both partners. For a doctor to classify your infertility as secondary, the previous births must be natural without the assistance of fertility medication or IVF. Here’s an overview of the signs, causes, and treatment options available for secondary infertility:
What Is Secondary Infertility?
Doctors classify infertility as primary or secondary. Primary infertility occurs when you’re unable to carry your first child to term without help from fertility medication and treatments. Secondary infertility occurs later after giving birth to one or more children without significant issues. Some cases of secondary infertility are temporary but others are permanent. Temporary secondary infertility stems from risk factors like stress, temporary health conditions, and lifestyle changes. Addressing these issues may restore your fertility.
Permanent secondary infertility is a long-lasting issue that makes conceptions impossible. Such cases stem from severe medical conditions, advanced age, and irreversible surgical procedures. You may also be diagnosed with unexplained infertility, which occurs when doctors have no explanation for your infertility. If your infertility diagnosis reveals no clear issues or causes, seek testing from a fertility specialist. Specialists use the tests to diagnose underlying risk factors like endometriosis, endometritis, and progesterone resistance.
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What Are the Signs of Secondary Infertility?
The inability to get pregnant or carry a child to term is the most obvious sign of infertility. If you’re younger than 35, the infertility is diagnosed after 12 months of unsuccessful attempts to conceive. These attempts involve regular unprotected intercourse. If you’re older than 35, infertility is diagnosed after six months of trying to conceive. Apart from the inability to conceive, you may experience symptoms related to the underlying cause of your infertility. Common symptoms include irregular, infrequent, or heavy periods and miscarriages.
What Causes Secondary Infertility?
Secondary infertility is caused by one or more factors, including problems with egg quality, age-related issues, and genital infections. Complications from previous pregnancies, surgeries, and medication, and lifestyle factors like smoking and alcohol overconsumption are also linked to infertility. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common cause of infertility in women of childbearing age. The condition causes irregular menstrual cycles and can lead to the development of fluid-filled sacs and cysts in the ovaries.
Endometriosis is another cause of female infertility. The condition occurs when endometrial tissues that grow in the uterine lining grow elsewhere. Endometriosis causes inflammation, scarring, and changes to the reproductive anatomy, affecting the quality of eggs. The tissues also block the sperm from reaching the egg. Other conditions linked to secondary infertility include primary ovarian insufficiency, hormonal disorders, fallopian tube obstruction, and uterine conditions like fibroids. The infertility may also stem from male-related factors, such as poor sperm quality and testicular varicocele.
How Is Secondary Infertility Treated?
Secondary infertility is treatable using medication but other cases require surgery or assisted reproductive technologies. The treatment option you receive depends on the underlying condition diagnosed and individual factors like health and weight. Ovulation issues are treated using fertility medications. Certain drugs will increase your chances of ovulating and are also used during IUI and IVF cycles. Fertility drugs for men also help in treating secondary infertility caused by hormonal imbalances.
Some cases of secondary infertility require surgery to remove endometrial growths, fibroids, adhesions, and uterine polyps. Fertility doctors also use surgery to free blocked fallopian tubes. In males, surgical procedures are done to reverse vasectomies and repair blockages in the sperm transport system. Assisted reproductive technologies like IUI and IVF are also effective in addressing infertility in women who don’t respond to other treatments. Before starting treatment, take tests to find out if you have asymptomatic endometriosis.
Seek Reliable Treatment for Unexplained Infertility
Addressing the causes of secondary infertility requires working with experienced fertility doctors and clinics. Certain cases of primary and secondary infertility are reversible once your doctor identifies the underlying cause of the condition. Get a professional diagnosis today to uncover and treat the causes of your unexplained infertility.
