Everything to know about Secondary Infertility- Indira IVF

We talk about secondary infertility when it is impossible to obtain a pregnancy when the couple or the single patient has already had one or more children. Like primary infertility (no pregnancy could be obtained), secondary infertility affects both men (30% of cases) and women (30% of cases). Desire for an increasingly late child, decrease in ovarian reserve, decrease in the quality of oocytes, hormonal imbalance, and abnormal spermogram are the most common causes of secondary infertility? 

What is secondary infertility?

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 a period of 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-

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

• Genital infection 

• Testicular trauma 

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

• 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

The different causes of female secondary infertility

• 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 medication 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?

To determine the cause of secondary infertility, the specialist will interview both the 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 etc. are part of the examinations implemented to draw up a complete fertility assessment.

Depending on the results, several secondary infertility treatments for assisted reproductive technology (ART) may be recommended. Depending on the nature of secondary infertility, certain techniques will be favored. 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 lesion 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 dysfunction of the ovaries (mature age, premenopause, after-effects of ovarian surgery, etc.).

To know more about secondary infertility treatment, visit the best fertility clinic in India and get the right treatment.