What is secondary infertility?
Secondary infertility occurs when a couple who has already had a child fails to conceive again after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse (6 months if the woman is over 35 or has other risk factors).
It differs from primary infertility, in which a pregnancy has never been achieved.
Although it may seem surprising, secondary infertility is a fairly common condition and can cause frustration, as many people don't expect to experience difficulties after having their first child.
Difficulty in achieving a second pregnancy may be due to different factors:
Stress, tobacco, alcohol or excess weight.
A complete diagnosis allows us to recommend the most appropriate treatment - treatment depends on the cause, age, and duration of infertility.
A fertility study is the first step in determining the cause. It includes:
Semen analysis to analyze the quantity and quality of sperm.
hormonal analysis, genetic studies or hysteroscopy, as appropriate.
Secondary infertility can lead to feelings of guilt, frustration, and sadness. Couples often compare themselves to the ease of their first pregnancy.
Psychological support specialized in assisted reproduction is key to supporting patients throughout the process and helping them manage anxiety.
The prognosis depends primarily on the woman's age, the identified cause, and the duration of infertility.
In many cases, with a proper diagnosis and personalized treatment, the chances of achieving another pregnancy are very high.
Primary infertility affects couples who have never achieved pregnancy. Secondary infertility occurs after having had at least one child.
