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Overcoming Secondary Infertility

Secondary infertility is common and treatable

Sometimes, the only constant is change, and it’s difficult to conceive after a successful initial pregnancy. Park Avenue Fertility and Reproductive Medicine frequently treats secondary infertility, which occurs when a patient is unable to conceive another baby or carry a pregnancy to term after previously giving birth without fertility treatment. While this diagnosis might sound daunting, Connecticut fertility specialist Dr. Andrew Levi successfully treats this common condition.

We help those who want to conceive another baby

Since couples experiencing secondary infertility already have a child, they may wait unnecessarily, thinking the time to get pregnant “just isn’t right.” But physical, hormonal or other issues may make it difficult to conceive another baby.

Understandably, this can be frustrating, but you’re not alone. How common is secondary infertility? According to the Centers for Disease Control, 11% of couples in the United States who already have a child experience it, accounting for 4 million families, or about half of all infertility cases.

Fortunately, our Connecticut fertility specialist, Andrew Levi MD, provides experienced and compassionate care, helping patients become parents again. Much like primary infertility, there are various reasons patients have difficulty conceiving another baby. Female factors cause issues one-third of the time, male fertility factors are responsible for another third, and the remaining cases are due to a combination of factors or are unexplained.

For men, age-related changes can decrease testosterone levels and affect sperm quality. In women, several factors can shift to make conception difficult.

  • Basic biology means that as a woman ages, so do her eggs. Maternal age negatively affects both the quality and quantity of available eggs, especially after age 35.
  • Uterine issues, which may include adhesions due to scarring from a C-section, fibroids, or polyps, can interfere with conception.
  • Fallopian tubes may be blocked or damaged.
  • Conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can worsen over time, making it difficult to conceive another baby.
  • Weight gain may disrupt ovulation, leading to infertility.

Taking action to treat secondary infertility

Early diagnosis is important to improve the odds of becoming parents again. Dr. Levi, our Connecticut fertility specialist, will thoroughly review your medical history to see what may have changed since your previous pregnancy and order the necessary testing to understand the cause of your fertility issues.

From there, he can develop a customized treatment plan that may include the following options.

The Park Avenue Fertility team regularly cares for patients whose concerns move from “when” they will have another child to “if” they will conceive another baby. We will guide you through uncertainty and want to help you. Contact us for a personalized consultation with Dr. Levi, our Connecticut fertility specialist, and learn how overcoming secondary infertility is possible.

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