If you’ve been trying to grow your whānau but are having trouble conceiving another child, you might be experiencing secondary infertility. Repromed Fertility Specialist Dr Emily Liu answers your questions about secondary infertility, including how common it is and what you can do to potentially increase your chances of conceiving again.
What is secondary infertility?
Secondary infertility happens when you have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term after you’ve already had one or more children. It can take people by surprise if they didn’t have trouble conceiving their first child, but is understandable as age impacts the quality of eggs.
How common is it?
Around 1 in 4 New Zealanders experience fertility issues, and secondary infertility is more common than you might think — it happens about as much as trying to get pregnant for the first time.
What causes secondary infertility?
The cause of secondary infertility varies from person to person, however one of the biggest contributing factors is age. There may also be other factors at play, including:
- hormonal disruption/imbalance after the first pregnancy
- infection after the first pregnancy
- changes in medical or health conditions and medications
- family history, including the age of the mother’s mother when she was menopausal. For example, if the mother’s mother experienced menopause earlier in life, there may be more difficulties conceiving a second child.
When should I contact a fertility specialist?
This really does depend on your age and how long you’ve been trying to conceive. A general rule is that if you’ve been trying to conceive and haven’t become pregnant after 12 months, it’s a good idea to seek help.
However, if you’re over 35 years old or you have a health condition that may impact your fertility, we would suggest you might want to seek help sooner. You can ask your GP to refer you, or self-refer to our fertility clinic to get investigations underway.
What tests will be run?
To try to figure out what is causing difficulties when you’re trying to conceive, fertility specialists will run several tests, often called ‘investigations’. These tests include a semen analysis, an assessment of ovulation and ovarian/egg reserve levels, a pelvic ultrasound, and a check to see whether the fallopian tubes are open or not.
After the tests, what are the next steps?
Once the tests have been completed, our fertility specialists will look at what treatments may be suitable, based on the results of the tests.
Sometimes it can be as simple as starting a pre-conception health programme that focuses on nutritional, lifestyle, and environmental factors to optimise reproductive health.
Other times, a more specific treatment like lipiodol (flushing of the fallopian tubes), IUI (Intrauterine insemination, when sperm is placed into the uterus), or IVF (In vitro fertilisation, where eggs are collected and fertilised in the laboratory) will be recommended.
Are there any lifestyle changes that can help?
There are many lifestyle factors that have been proven to influence or enhance your chances of getting pregnant, both before and during fertility treatment. It takes 100-120 days for eggs and sperm to mature, so what you do in the four months prior to conception has an impact.
A few key changes include following a healthy diet and avoiding processed and sugary foods; doing regular low-impact exercise; reducing your stress levels; taking a pre-natal supplement that includes folic acid and folate; avoiding smoking, vaping and/or drug use; and limiting exposure to chemicals.
What support is available?
You’re not alone if you’re experiencing difficulties on your fertility journey. Talking to a counsellor or joining a Fertility NZ support group are great options for those who are facing challenges when trying to conceive.
If you’d like to discuss your options when it comes to expanding your whānau, our team of friendly and experienced fertility specialists are always here to help. Get in touch with us today to book a free 15 minute phone consultation with a fertility doctor and discuss your personal situation.
