All you need to know about Secondary infertility: From start till end

Secondary infertility is by definition the inability to conceive naturally again when one or more previous pregnancies have resulted in the birth of a child. This inability to conceive can come from many factors, including both members of the couple. If no pregnancy occurs after twelve months of unprotected regular intercourse with the same partner, it is advisable to seek the advice of a specialist. This period is reduced to six months for women over 35 years of age.

The different causes of male secondary infertility

Among the most common causes of male secondary infertility are:

• Varicocele (dilation of the spermatic veins that can affect men at any time);

• Genital infection 

• Testicular trauma 

• Anejaculation (unable to ejaculate) or retrograde ejaculation (evacuation of sperm to the bladder in case of diabetes, spinal cord injury, following surgery of the prostate or abdomen) 

• Erectile dysfunction 

• Low sperm production (due to pituitary and hypothalamus dysfunction) 

• Sperm abnormalities (with a mobility, shape or vitality problem) 

• Obesity 

• Excessive use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs

Among the most common causes of female secondary infertility are cases of:

• Hormonal profile abnormality;

• Anovulation or lack of ovulation (due to stress, excessive weight loss or significant weight gain);

• Hyperprolactinemia (excessive increase in prolactin caused by a benign pituitary gland tumor or taking medications such as psychotropic or antiulcer drugs) causing ovulatory disorders;

• Damage to the fallopian tubes (due to a sexually transmitted disease or an ectopic pregnancy);

• Uterine abnormality (synechia, endometrial infection, sequelae of surgery);

• Abnormality in the cervix (conization of the cervix, modification of the cervical mucus, etc.);

• Endometriosis (causing ovulatory disorders, damage to the fallopian tubes with adhesions or failure to implant);

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS);

• Obesity;

• Excessive use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs.

Secondary infertility Treatment: what ART offers?

Secondary infertility Treatment include-

To determine the cause of secondary infertility, the specialist will interview two patients (if they are a couple). As a first intention, he will also order a clinical examination. Depending on the case, other examinations may be considered. Hormonal exploration, ovarian ultrasound, hysterography, spermogram are part of the examinations implemented to draw up a complete fertility assessment.

Depending on the results, several treatments for ART may be recommended. Depending on the nature of secondary infertility, certain techniques will be favoured. These include:

·        Artificial insemination, recommended if the patient has ovulatory problems or even deterioration in the cervix or if the patient has moderate sperm quality defects;

·        In vitro fertilization, recommended in the event of absence or injury of the fallopian tubes, endometriosis, limited number of oocytes or severe male factor;

·        Sperm donation, prescribed in cases of severe male factor, low quality of sperm;

·        Oocyte donation , recommended for patients suffering from ovarian dysfunction (middle age, premenopause, after-effects of ovarian surgery, etc.).

Beyond all these techniques to intervene after a diagnosis of secondary infertility, ART is also able to help its patients with a preventive approach to techniques thanks to the technique of preservation of fertility . This time, it is the patient herself who decides to shelter her still young oocytes for later use. Thanks to this technique of cryopreservation of oocytes, the patient can keep the hope of conceiving a child with her own gametes, despite secondary infertility linked to chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment, or even in case of desire for late motherhood.

To know more about secondary infertility, visit the best fertility clinic in India.