What is the Difference Between Primary and Secondary Infertility?

The main difference between primary and secondary infertility lies in the individual's or couple's history of achieving a pregnancy.

Primary infertility refers to a situation where a person or couple has never achieved a pregnancy. This type of infertility is typically diagnosed after at least 1 year of having unprotected sex without any form of birth control.
Secondary infertility occurs when a person or couple has previously achieved at least one pregnancy but now faces difficulty getting pregnant again. This type of infertility can be experienced by couples who have already had one or more pregnancies and is more common among those who have already had children.

Regardless of whether it is primary or secondary infertility, there are various treatment options available, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor conception, and surrogacy. The treatment options for both types of infertility are generally the same, and doctors use the available information from previous fertility testing or treatment to guide their approach. The causes of primary and secondary infertility can be similar, as they may involve hormonal imbalances, medical complications, genital infections, uterine anomalies, endometriosis, and other factors.

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What is the Difference Between Primary and Secondary Infertility?

Comparative Table: Primary vs Secondary Infertility

Here is a table comparing the differences between primary and secondary infertility:

Feature	Primary Infertility	Secondary Infertility
Definition	Inability to achieve a first pregnancy	Inability to achieve a subsequent pregnancy after at least one prior pregnancy
Experience	Couples trying for their first child	Couples trying for a subsequent child after having at least one child
Diagnosis	Diagnosed after 12 months or more of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse without conceiving	Diagnosed when a couple has trouble getting pregnant after successfully having a child
Causes	Can be due to male or female reproductive issues, or a combination of both	Can be caused by issues with the female or male partner, or a combination of both
Treatment	Treatments for both primary and secondary infertility are the same, including medication, surgery, or assisted reproductive technologies (ART)	Treatments for both primary and secondary infertility are the same, including medication, surgery, or assisted reproductive technologies (ART)
Emotional Impact	Navigating infertility can be challenging and bring on complicated emotions	Navigating infertility can be challenging and bring on complicated emotions

Regardless of the type of infertility, both primary and secondary infertility can be emotionally challenging and require support from loved ones and experienced professionals. Treatments for both types of infertility are generally the same, and may include medication, surgery, or assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to improve the chances of conception.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.