Secondary Infertility is an under-diagnosed and under-appreciated condition typically affecting women in their mid to late 30s, and according to the Queensland Fertility Group (QFG), patients seeking treatment for Secondary Infertility at QFG have increased by a very worrying 10% over the past 4 years.

“It’s not unreasonable to believe that once you’ve had a child, then you must be fertile and will not have trouble conceiving again. Unfortunately, this is not the case,” says Queensland Fertility Group’s Clinical Director Dr David Molloy.

Secondary Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive or carry a baby to term after successfully and naturally conceiving one or more children, and many more couples are seeking treatment for this condition.

“We know that one in six couples will experience infertility at some stage; however, many couples are unaware that secondary infertility can strike after they’ve previously conceived naturally.”

“Advancing age is a significant factor for a woman trying to conceive. If the first child was conceived in a woman’s mid 30’s, it is very likely that the egg quality may have begun to decrease and the quality of the sperm may have declined during the years that have passed since a couple’s first pregnancy,” he says.

Causes of Secondary Infertility may also include damage from pregnancy such as infection and adhesions from caesarean section.

Fortunately, there is some good news: couples who have conceived once in a relationship have higher pregnancy rates with treatment.

For many women, intuition tells them something is wrong when it comes to their inability to conceive a second time. Queensland Fertility Group’s Senior Fertility Nurse, Carmel Carrigan, sees women distressed by this condition every day.

“They are confused and angry about failing to conceive. They simply can’t get their head around why it isn’t working, when last time it happened all so easily,” she says.

“And because quite often all the attention is placed on women having their first baby, women suffering from Secondary Infertility also feel guilty for expressing their dismay at not being able to have a second child when so many women out there can’t conceive at all,” she says.

Secondary Infertility can have different causes from Primary Infertility (the inability to conceive a first child); however, the extreme anxiety and distress experienced by a couple having difficulties conceiving, as well as many of  the treatments remain the same.

The message is that if you are experiencing difficulties having another child then seek treatment early, especially for women in their mid to late 30s whose egg quality is starting to decrease.

Fortunately, there is some good news: couples who have conceived once in a relationship have higher pregnancy rates with treatment.

For many women, intuition tells them something is wrong when it comes to their inability to conceive a second time. Queensland Fertility Group Senior Fertility Nurse, Carmel Carrigan, sees women distressed by this condition every day.

“They are confused and angry about failing to conceive. They simply can’t get their head around why it isn’t working, when last time it happened all so easily,” she says.

“And because quite often all the attention is placed on women having their first baby, women suffering from Secondary Infertility also feel guilty for expressing their dismay at not being able to have a second child when so many women out there can’t conceive at all,” she says.

Secondary Infertility can have different causes from Primary Infertility (the inability to conceive a first child); however, the extreme anxiety and distress experienced by a couple having difficulties conceiving, as well as many of the treatments remain the same.

The message is that if you are experiencing difficulties having another child then seek treatment early, especially for women in their mid to late 30s whose egg quality is starting to decrease.