Difference Between Primary And Secondary Infertility

Difference Between Primary And Secondary Infertility

 

People have understood what infertility is. What about those, who have been trying for a long time to conceive, but still have not gotten the result, even though they are already a parent? It can be because of either male or female. Both hold the responsibility equally.  

As per the National Library of Medicine study, almost 8% of couples in India face infertility challenges, and out of that, 5.8% are dealing with secondary infertility. But only a few know the difference between both. So, let’s delve into this article to know the difference between primary and secondary infertility. 

Overview of infertility

Infertility is an issue that is caused when the female or male reproductive system is defined as the failure to conceive or achieve pregnancy even after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse. Sometimes there are several unexplained factors linked with that, but it can be prevented. According to the Chairman of Voice of Healthcare, Dr. Naveen Nishchal, the reason behind the increased infertility rate are because of unhealthy habits and a sedentary lifestyle. 

Infertility in males:

  • In the male, infertility is caused by several factors including the ejection of semen, mortality factors, movement of sperm, abnormality of sperm, and their low level. 
  • Due to medical treatments like chemotherapy, the ability of the testicular to develop sperm is impacted as it impairs the cells that produce sperm. 
  • For those males who are taking steroids, there are high chance that their semen parameters are impacted including motility, morphology, functioning, and quality. 
  • Additionally, excessive smoking and drinking increase oxidative stress, create hormonal disruption, and impact the sperm’s DNA. These significantly decrease the ability to bear children. 

Infertility in female:

  • In females, it is because of fallopian tubes, abnormalities in ovaries, uterus, and endocrine system. 
  • Additionally, some women are unable to conceive because of disorders like PCOS, follicular disorders, uterine disorders, unsafe abortion, sexually transmitted infections, and many more. 
  • The endocrine system such as the pituitary gland and hypothalamus causes an imbalance in the reproductive hormones, then causes issues in fertility. 
  • Approximately, 3% of Indian women are facing infertility issues because of fibroids, while 20% of women experience fibroids during their reproductive years. 

Now comes the turn to understand how many types of infertility are there.

Primary and secondary infertility are the two types, and it is important to understand what is the difference between primary and secondary infertility. This understanding allows the individual to know their infertility situation. Knowing the difference can help you make more informed decisions. 

Acknowledging the differentiation can aid in decisions related to family planning. Moreover, infertility significantly influences the emotional and psychological well-being of the person. So, rather than dealing on your own, you can seek medical and emotional support from specialists and therapists. 

What is Primary Infertility?

When a couple has been having intercourse without protection for the last year, and still does not get any results or is unable to bear a child, then it is called primary infertility. It can happen because of a variety of causes connected to either partner or both. It is really frustrating to unable to conceive because bearing a child for the first holds a special feeling. 

Common causes:

  • Although there are some common causes which influence the fertility factors, including-
  • Due to the lack of ovulation, they restrict eggs to release from the ovaries. This ovulation disorder can happen because of PCOS, premature ovarian failure, prolactin rate is high, or hypothalamic dysfunction. 
  • Due to the blocked fallopian tubes, eggs are unable to move to the uterus which also increases the chances of ectopic pregnancy. The symptoms include heavy bleeding, extreme pain during periods, vaginal discharge, or abdominal pain. 
  • Structural issues in the uterus like fibroids, scars, polyps, etc., can prevent implantation. 
  • Due to abnormality in sperm, impacted sperm parameters, abnormal sperm morphology, etc., are the contributing factors of male infertility. 
  • Excessive smoking and drinking create hormonal imbalances in the system. 

Example: In India, almost 14% of women and 42% of men do casual smoking and drinking. Out of that, 47.4% and 62.1% of women and men have a habit of excessive smoking. Just think, how much this habit is impacting their fertility rate. Suppose a woman in her late 20s tries to conceive for months and is still unable to get results, but she or he has a habit of smoking and drinking. Hormonal imbalance, low sperm count, and reduced egg quality are some of the common reasons behind her and his infertility. You know what, even Michele Obama also stated that she faced challenges related to infertility in her 30s. So, rather than questioning everything, couples need to understand what kind of lifestyle they have adopted and whether this is the reason behind their inability to carry a child or not. 

What is Secondary Infertility?

When a couple has been trying for 12 months, and then is unable to conceive, even though they are already parents of at least one child or had successful pregnancies before, that too without any fertility treatment. As per the study conducted by the United States Agency for International Development, it has been estimated that soon secondary infertility in India will reach 24.9%, and this is because of the lifestyle chosen by the people. This can take an emotional toll for the couples, as this puts them in a thought about what they did wrong. It is necessary to acknowledge couples that, there are several factors that influence their ability and this can be treated with the right treatment. 

Common causes

  • Women over 35 and men over 40 to 45 face challenges, as the number of normal eggs decreases and eggs having chances of chromosomal problems are high. In men, their DNA fragmentation increases with a decreased mortality rate. 
  • Endometriosis (tissue just like the lining of the uterus grows outside) leads to pain. 
  • Due to pelvic surgery or chlamydia, the chances of blocked fallopian tubes increase. 
  • Weight significantly impacted the chances of getting pregnant again in comparison to the first time. Hormonal disruption, age, abnormal sperm, and eggs are also impacted along with that. 
  • If a woman has faced any complication in her previous pregnancy like infection or surgeries, this can impact future pregnancies. 
  • Drinking might not impact you the first time, but this can cause issues during the second time. 
  • Stress slowly impacts the fertility rate, and this can cause the inability to conceive for the second time. 

Example: Kim Kardashian opened up about her second infertility, and she was also not aware of the things to do. But opening up about the situation with her fertility doctors helped her. In her first pregnancy, she underwent a lot of surgeries due to her health condition which further led her to face second infertility. This indicates the importance of health to conceive. 

Key Differences Between Primary and Secondary Infertility

Diagnosis procedures

Although the diagnosis process of both infertility types is similar. Meanwhile, in primary the fertility specialists analyze the potential causes, while in secondary, they deep dive into more detailed investigation to find out the reasons. 

Tests to diagnose primary and secondary infertility:

  • Checking the medical history of both partners to analyze sexual habits, period cycle, general, and checking complications related to previous pregnancy for second infertility. 
  • Thyroid tests, as this health problem can cause hormonal imbalance. 
  • Hysterosalpingogram to check if there is any blockage in fallopian tubes or not. 
  • Transvaginal ultrasound helps to view the pelvic organs and help in diagnosing the condition. 
  • In-depth semen analysis to check the different parameters of sperm. 
  • Laparoscopy helps to analyze abnormalities in the uterus and ovaries. 
  • Genetic testing to know the genetic causes of infertility.

If you are seeking medical attention, then it is crucial for you to talk about your problems openly. A fertility specialist is here for you and treat you. An open communication with them can help them to know the actual reason behind the infertility. If you hide anything, they are not able to detect the actual reason behind the problem. Moreover, if you are around or over 30, then early evaluation is the best. 

Difference in approach of treatment

This is one of the common methods to treat primary and secondary infertility. Medications like letrozole and clomiphene are recommended by fertility experts to treat ovulation-related problems. It is advised to don’t buy this medication over-the-counter, and always seek advice before consuming any medicines because you don’t know what can impact your reproductive health. 

Primary infertility-

  • Lifestyle modification- fertility expert guide to change some lifestyle modifications to improve the overall health condition. 
  • Surgery- to open the blocked fallopian tubes, and remove scars or polyps, the surgery is initiated. Meanwhile for men, if doctors find any issue related to sperm and need surgery, then it is also initiated to improve the odds of conception. 
  • Assisted reproductive technology (ART)- under this, IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and intrauterine insemination are included.  
  • Support and counseling- as the couple does face emotional disbalance, stress management, emotional support, and expert advice help them to calm themselves. 

You know what, primary infertility can be treated by underlying different causes. Based on the treatment, medication, and lifestyle improvement, couples can achieve a normal pregnancy. In fact, almost 80% of couples treated their primary infertility. So, don’t lose hope! 

Although there are some common treatment approaches used by doctors to treat both infertility. 

Secondary infertility- 

  • Intrauterine insemination- although it is a complex process and the treatment might take a toll on your emotions, this increases the chances of pregnancy. Under this artificial insemination process, doctors placed washed and concentrated sperm directly inside the uterus during the time of ovulation. 
  • IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization)- fertility experts retrieve the eggs from the ovaries and then manually combine them with sperm. This laboratory process is to fertilize the eggs. Once the fertilization process is done, the experts place it in the uterus which increases the chances of pregnancy. 
  • Uterine-related surgery- This approach is used to remove the complications that are happening in the uterus. This surgery is to remove the scar, fibroids, or polyps to repair the uterus. 
  • Varicocelectomy- the purpose of the surgery is to treat varicocele, minimize the pain in the testicular, and increase the chances of fertility. 

Support systems and stigma associated with each

It is time to eradicate the stigma around infertility. There is a misconception around secondary infertility that “if you have conceived once, you can do it again”. Couples often feel ashamed to share their feeling of not being able to bear a child again. They get less sympathy from family, and due to this fear, they tend to avoid sharing it. 

Almost 6 out of 10 couples are dealing with infertility challenges. Rather than social isolation, the problem is that they are experiencing anxiety and depression. However, there are several support groups that can help you to deal with your emotional toll. However, it is recommended to talk to a fertility center like Aveya IVF Center. They value everyone and understand that infertility can be a huge to deal with. They offer emotional and mental support to their patients so that they can cope with their stress and anxiety. 

Moreover, you will get to know the actual reason behind your infertility, which further can assist in treating your problem. Make sure to talk to them openly, because the more they know about your emotional stress and medical condition, the more beneficial treatment they can offer. Furthermore, fear of questioning masculinity, judgment from others, pressure from family, and putting blame on women are some of the orthodox thinking that puts a lot of pressure on couples. 

Conclusion 

Comprehending the specific issues and reasons behind primary and secondary infertility can help you to seek appropriate support and treatment. Moreover, if you have any questions or queries concerning fertility, you can talk to Aveya IVF Center. Their specialists are highly professional and impeccable in their field. They can guide and support you through every stage. 

Feel free to contact Aveya IVF Center!

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