Infertility can be frustrating and upsetting no matter when you experience it. Sometimes infertility doesn’t occur until after a successful childbirth, or even multiple childbirths.
If you were able to conceive and give birth to a baby, you may assume that you’ll continue to have other children without issues or complications. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Many couples struggle with secondary infertility.
Read on to learn what secondary infertility is and how long you should wait to try to conceive after previously giving birth. You will also learn potential treatment options that may help.
What is secondary infertility?
Secondary infertility refers to the inability to conceive or carry a baby to term after previously giving birth vaginally or with a cesarean section. While it may not be as commonly discussed as primary infertility, secondary infertility can be just as frustrating. This type of infertility is common, affecting 11% of couples in the United States, which means it affects about 4 million families. That’s nearly half of all infertility cases in the country.
The causes of secondary infertility can have similar causes to primary infertility, including:
- Maternal age over 35 and paternal age over 40.
- Low sperm count.
- Excessive weight gain.
- Damaged fallopian tubes.
- Endometriosis.
- Uterine issues.
- Ovulation issues.
- Complications from a previous pregnancy.
Struggles with secondary infertility are chalked up to unexplained infertility in 1 in 5 couples.
How long should you wait to attempt conceiving after giving birth?
A diagnosis of secondary infertility has a similar time frame to primary infertility. If you have trouble conceiving after one year, or 12 menstruation cycles, of having sex without a form of birth control, you may have secondary infertility if the female is under the age of 35. If the female is older than 35, the time frame of a secondary infertility diagnosis is reduced to six months of unprotected sex without conception.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends waiting at least six months after giving birth before attempting to conceive again. The time frame of your attempt won’t affect your risk of secondary infertility.
What is the treatment for secondary infertility?
Even if you didn’t need treatment options for your previous pregnancy (or pregnancies), it’s OK to explore the options for secondary infertility. If you want another child, it’s important to see how a fertility specialist can help. Based on your medical history and the potential causes of your infertility, a specialist will help identify the treatments that are most likely to be effective for you.
Potential infertility treatments include:
- Ovarian stimulation (OS) — Helping to stimulate ovulation is often one of the first steps that a fertility specialist will suggest. They will usually recommend that you start with a prescription of clomiphene citrate or letrozole oral tablets. The goal of these medications is to increase the number of eggs that are released into the fallopian tube during ovulation. Pregnancy that stems from OS will likely occur in the first three months of the treatment.
- Trigger shot — Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is an injection that is often paired with ovarian stimulation treatment. It’s a hormone that assists in the release of multiple mature eggs from your ovaries. An ultrasound is required while the injection is administered to ensure the best timing possible.
- Intrauterine insemination — Sperm being unable to reach an egg to fertilize is often one reason that a couple may struggle to conceive. Intrauterine insemination is a procedure where sperm is directly implanted into the uterus. The goal is to increase the number of healthy sperm cells that could fertilize an egg in the fallopian tubes.
- In vitro fertilization — If your specialist believes that your secondary infertility has an unexplainable cause, they may recommend in vitro fertilization, commonly referred to as IVF. The process involves removing eggs from the ovaries and taking them to a lab to be fertilized by sperm. IVF involves multiple procedures and, unfortunately, doesn’t work for everyone.
Fertility Cloud can show you which secondary infertility treatment may be right for you
Secondary infertility can be just as upsetting as primary infertility. But you’re not alone, and you shouldn’t lose hope. We’re here to help you find the treatment options that will give you the best chance of adding another member to your family.
Now that you know what secondary infertility is, learn what options you have by contacting our team by phone today for more information or book an initial appointment online with a fertility specialist.