Many couples believe that having conceived and having given birth to their first child, they will easily give birth to a second. However, this does not always happen. Sometimes, when future parents are examined, they are diagnosed with “secondary infertility”.
If we turn to medicine, then infertility is a situation where a couple cannot become pregnant during the year of regular sexual activity without the use of contraceptive methods. If a woman has never been pregnant before, such infertility is called primary. However, if she already has a baby, or if her pregnancy was interrupted for some reason (as a result of an abortion, miscarriage or premature birth), he is called secondary.
Primary infertility, as well as secondary infertility, requires medical intervention and the establishment of causes. Only then can adequate treatment be prescribed. And you need to do this as soon as possible. Sometimes a woman cannot have children, not as a result of some health problems, but physiologically, from birth. This happens extremely rarely, but the treatment in this case is very complicated.
Studies show that secondary infertility is an acquired disease. It is important not to miss the most favorable time for conception. The fact is that after 35 years the woman’s ability to conceive and give birth is significantly reduced, so if you plan to give birth to a second child, do not put it in the long box.
There are several main reasons that lead to the development of secondary infertility:
- The main factor that can result in secondary infertility is inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs. Similar diseases can occur both after past infections of the genital organs and after an abortion.
- After severe inflammation in the genitals, adhesions often form, which leads to obstruction of the fallopian tubes. Sometimes such formations occur after surgery to remove appendicitis, ovarian resection, etc. Sometimes secondary infertility causes an ectopic pregnancy.
- A similar diagnosis may be of endocrine nature. The main signs of this type of infertility are malfunctions of the menstrual cycle, the process of egg maturation and the complete absence of ovulation.
- Secondary infertility can have an immunological character: in the body of a woman, the production of antisperm antibodies occurs , which are aimed at destroying sperm.
- If a woman is overweight, disorders may occur in the body, including at the endocrine level. Sometimes infertility develops due to hormonal disruptions that occur after strict diets.
Treatment of secondary infertility is carried out according to the same scheme as the primary one: diagnosis is carried out, a cause is established and a course is prescribed.
Often a married couple seeks help late: they believe that you just need to give up bad habits and not expose the body to stress. However, if the situation is serious, do not despair, because there are many ways to alternative conception:
- In vitro fertilization. This procedure consists in the fact that the egg of a woman, which is obtained from her ovaries, is fertilized by the sperm of the donor or husband. Then the embryo undergoes cultivation in the laboratory and is transferred to the fourth or fifth day after that.
- Donor transplant of germ cells or embryos.
- You can use the services of a surrogate mother.
Remember that a visit to a doctor must be timely, then he will be able to help you much faster and more efficiently. The sooner the diagnosis is carried out, the greater the chances of a full recovery. Because the happiness of motherhood is worth it.