Secondary infertility

Secondary infertility is the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to birth after you previously gave birth. It’s a common condition that affects up to 14 percent of women.

At Penn Medicine, our fertility care team offers comprehensive testing, accurate diagnosis, and state-of-the-art treatment options. Our priority is to help you overcome secondary infertility and build your family.

You may have secondary infertility if:

• You and your partner are under the age of 35 and have been trying to conceive for 12 months or longer
• You and your partner are older than 35 and have tried to conceive for six months or longer

Not everyone with secondary infertility experiences symptoms. However, you may have an increased risk if you experience:

• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Miscarriages
• Painful periods
• Pelvic inflammatory disease

Secondary infertility can have many causes. For women, reasons may include:

• Advanced age (over 35), which affects the number of eggs available for conception
• Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, which prevent sperm from reaching an egg
• Complications from a prior delivery or surgery
• Endometriosis
• Medications
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Smoking or heavy alcohol use
• Uterine conditions like uterine fibroids or an abnormally shaped uterus
• Weight gain

Male health conditions and lifestyle factors can also contribute to secondary infertility in couples. These include:

• Advanced age (over 40), which affects testosterone levels and sperm quality
• Enlarged prostate or prostate surgery
• Erectile dysfunction
• Low testosterone levels
• Medications
• Smoking or heavy alcohol use
• Varicoceles, enlarged scrotal veins that can affect sperm production
• Weight gain

Our team of fertility specialists offers a full range of tests to determine the cause of secondary infertility.

Fertility testing options for women include:

• Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
• Ovarian reserve tests
• Pelvic ultrasound
• Saline-infusion sonohysterogram
• Other blood tests

Fertility testing for men may include:

• Antibody blood test
• Chromosome analysis
• Genetic test
• Semen analysis
• Testicular biopsy
• Testosterone test
• Testicular ultrasound