Secondary infertility in women is the inability to conceive a child for more than a year for women who have already had a pregnancy, regardless of its outcome (delivery, miscarriage, spontaneous or medical abortion).
It is possible to find out whether infertility in a couple is really in a woman, and not in her husband, only after a careful examination of both spouses. Treatment of this condition is possible only after determining its cause.
My name is Mrs. Maria Rudnik, I’m the CEO of the Mami.clinic, a fertility coach and I have been helping women get pregnant for many years. I constantly talk with women, immerse myself in their problems and know what is going on not only in their body, but also in their head.
Causes of female infertility
Secondary female infertility is easier to treat than primary.
In 80-90% of cases, its causes are:
- inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs;
- the consequences of previously transferred inflammatory diseases of the organs of the reproductive system (usually – obstruction of the fallopian tubes due to adhesions formed in them).
Other factors taken together cause secondary infertility in 10-20% of cases. Among them, the most common are:
- endocrine diseases (hypothyroidism, pathology of the gonads);
- obstruction of the fallopian tubes (possible causes – medical abortions, past surgeries, trauma);
- endometriosis;
- uterine myoma.
Diagnosis of female infertility
The most common cause of secondary female infertility is inflammation of the genital organs, therefore, first of all, diagnosis involves determining a possible infection. To do this, the doctor takes smears from the vagina and urethra and gives a referral for a blood test.
Other studies are also being conducted to determine the causes of secondary infertility:
- Ultrasound is a mandatory diagnostic method for women suffering from secondary infertility. It is done 3 times during one menstrual cycle: after 1, 2 and 3 weeks from the first day of menstruation. Ultrasound allows you to assess the condition of the internal genital organs and track the work of the ovaries.
- Blood tests for hormones – a study that is carried out in order to identify a possible endocrine factor leading to infertility. In the blood, the level of sex hormones, as well as thyroid hormones, is determined.
- Hysterosalpingoscopy – examination of the fallopian tubes with a contrast agent using ultrasound. Allows you to assess the patency of the fallopian tubes.
- Hysteroscopy is an instrumental research method that involves the penetration of an optical device into the uterine cavity and allows you to assess its condition.
The method is not only diagnostic, but also therapeutic, because. during the procedure, pathological processes in the ovaries (cysts, cystomas) are removed, the patency of the fallopian tubes is restored, cauterization of endometriosis foci, etc.
Treatment of secondary female infertility
Treatment of infertility 2 in women can be started only after identifying its causes. For this, it can be used:
- Conservative therapy. It is prescribed in the case when a woman has an infection, or a hormonal factor of infertility is established. Infections are treated with antimicrobials. Their choice is made by the doctor depending on the type of pathogen and its sensitivity to antibiotics. Endocrinological disorders can be compensated with the help of hormonal drugs.
- Surgical treatment. It is most effective when the cause of infertility is obstruction of the fallopian tubes, benign tumors, endometriosis.
In VitroClinic Lipetsk for surgical treatment of infertility in women, laparoscopy, hysteroresectoscopy are used.
- Reproductive technologies. VitroClinic Lipetsk uses all modern ART methods:
- artificial insemination;
- IVF;
- ICSI (in addition to IVF).
With the help of these modern technologies, most women can become pregnant and successfully endure pregnancy, even if they have not been able to determine the cause of secondary infertility or conservative treatment has been ineffective.
Many people think that since there are already one or two children, the conception will inevitably occur on its own and again. But it is not always the case. If you have been trying to conceive a child for several years and all to no avail, do not waste time and do not despair.
Come to Mami Clinic. Our experts will help you understand the situation and choose the most optimal treatment specifically for your case.
30% of infertile women are diagnosed with infertility of unknown origin. In most cases, the inability to get pregnant is associated with psychological problems and doctors call this psychological infertility.
Diagnosis and treatment of infertility should begin with an examination by a gynecologist. There are many physiological causes of this problem: from obstruction of the fallopian tubes to hormonal imbalances. If gynecologists cannot identify any pathology, often the cause must be sought in the psychological attitudes of the woman.
My name is Mrs. Maria Rudnik, I’m the CEO of the Mami.clinic, a fertility coach and I have been helping women get pregnant for many years. I constantly talk with women, immerse myself in their problems and know what is going on not only in their body, but also in their head.
Causes of psychological infertility
Two groups of psychological attitudes can be distinguished, which are opposite in essence, but lead to the same result.
Of course, the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, first of all, should be started with an examination by a gynecologist: there are many physiological causes of this problem – from obstruction of the fallopian tubes to hormonal imbalances. However, psychological infertility is not a fictional diagnosis. In cases where gynecologists cannot detect any pathology, the body, it would seem, is completely healthy and ready for the birth of a child, but conception still does not occur – it is often the psychological attitudes that are to blame.
There are many reasons and scenarios for the development of psychological infertility, but among them, two groups of psychological attitudes can be distinguished, which are opposite in essence, but lead to the same result – infertility.
An obsessive desire to get pregnant
The first group of reasons for the development of psychological infertility is caused by “fixation” on this problem. An obsessive desire to get pregnant at all costs, accompanied by long months or even years of failure, leads to the development of a psychological block. Despite the desire to get pregnant, a woman whose psychological infertility in her soul is already set to fail, and futile attempts only add feelings of disappointment in herself and “worthlessness”, which contributes to the development of stress and prevents normal conception.
In such cases, it is useful to switch your attention to some other problems and concerns, to distract yourself from an obsessive thought, and, if possible, reduce the importance of this event. After all, numerous cases are known when pregnancy occurs just at the moment when the last hope for conception is already lost and desperate spouses even manage to take a foster child. When diligent attempts end, and a woman comes to terms with infertility, the psychological block is also removed – and a long-awaited and, at the same time, unexpected pregnancy occurs.
Subconscious fear of pregnancy
This group of causes of psychological infertility includes numerous scenarios and attitudes that prevent conception. In most cases, women do not even remember and cannot realize what their subconscious unwillingness to have children is connected with. This may be a story about death in childbirth heard in childhood or a film about childbirth that left a deep emotional imprint in the subconscious and the appearance of a hidden fear of childbirth. Or the often repeated statements from the older generation that children are a burden that interfere with career and personal life, phrases from the series “if it weren’t for children, then…” and frequent warnings that there is nothing worse than “bringing in a hem”. All this can affect a woman’s subconscious attitude towards pregnancy as something undesirable. In this case, the body resists its onset, “protecting” the woman from such undesirable consequences.
Stress can also affect fertility. The body perceives constant exposure to stressors as an unfavorable moment for conception and prevents the onset of pregnancy.
These and other psychological factors, which are individual and subjective in each case, can lead to the development of psychological infertility. Psychological attitudes, like stress, affect the nervous system, and through it the whole body, especially the endocrine system, changing the level of hormones.
Get rid of psychological infertility
If your gynecologist diagnosed you with infertility, but could not find any physiological reasons for this, do not lose hope. To cope with possible psychological blocks, it is worth getting rid of stress, relaxing, resting more, not getting hung up on this problem and, most importantly, not losing hope. And then your body will understand that you really want a child, are ready for it – and instead of interfering, it will help you get pregnant.
