Did you get pregnant with your first baby in a short time but are you having a hard time becoming a mother again? We consulted Elena Labarta, a doctor specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology to resolve all doubts.
Main causes of secondary infertility: when the second child does not arrive
The main reason why this pathology occurs is usually related to the advanced age of the mother. Currently, a large percentage of people believe that those women who have previously had children naturally will not present problems related to fertility in the future. But the truth is that this statement is not always true. Infertility occurs or begins to manifest itself over time, even after having had children without any type of prior complications.
This pathology is known as secondary infertility. Age and other reasons “Female secondary infertility is usually associated mainly with age, since the passage of time directly and markedly affects a woman's reproductive potential. However, it can also be due to other factors such as endometriosis or hormonal imbalances, among others.
From the age of 35, the quality and quantity of the eggs decreases drastically and from the age of 38 there is an increase in the possibilities of chromosomal alterations in the embryos. If, furthermore, in some cases, age is combined with any of the previously mentioned pathologies, we find ourselves with a more complex case,” explains Dr. Elena Labarta, gynecologist at IVI Valencia.
On the other hand, in the case of men, it is essential to highlight that certain changes in lifestyle or health habits, in addition to the appearance of some severe disease or pathology, can influence the loss or deterioration of semen quality, directly affecting to the chances of resulting in pregnancy. “For these reasons, it is essential that people know and be aware of all these factors when carrying out their family planning.
Wanting to wait to have children after the age of 30 may mean that complications will appear and it will be necessary to resort to reproductive medicine to achieve a pregnancy. For this reason, gynecologists recommend the option of vitrifying the oocytes, an alternative that, in the case of women, offers the possibility of deciding without the pressure of time on female fertility,” comments Dr. Labarta.
Oocyte vitrification
This technique mainly allows the woman's reproductive capacity to be postponed for as long as she wishes. In this way, when the woman intends to become pregnant, she will be able to use her previously vitrified eggs, which will retain intact the characteristics they presented when they were preserved. “That is, if a woman vitrifies her eggs at age 30 and, ten years later, at age 40, she intends to become pregnant with them, her eggs will have the same quality as they had when they were vitrified at the patient's age of 30.” clarifies the expert.
When to seek help?
This is a question that many patients ask themselves, and the best time to go and consult with a specialist in reproductive medicine about possible secondary infertility would be, if the woman is under 35 years old, after a year of regular sexual relations without achieving pregnancy. In the case of older women (over 35 years of age), it is recommended to consult after six months of sexual intercourse without pregnancy.
“There is a conviction that women and couples who have had their first child without any problems and naturally can expect the same to happen with the second. Sometimes, this is not the case and this fact can lead to great suffering and stress,” concludes Dr. Labarta. Secondary infertility therefore has a great impact on an emotional level. For this reason, in many reproductive clinics, have an emotional support unit to accompany patients during their processes and help them in the best way to manage their feelings and emotions.
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