Mayo Clinic Health Library


Secondary infertility: Why does it happen?


Updated: 03-23-2011


Secondary infertility — the inability to get pregnant despite having frequent, unprotected sex for at least a year by a couple who previously had a child — shares many of the same causes of primary infertility.

For example, male infertility can be caused by impaired sperm production, function or delivery. Female infertility can be related to fallopian tube damage, ovulation disorders, endometriosis and uterine conditions. Sometimes, however, secondary infertility stems from complications related to prior pregnancies. Changes in your and your partner's risk factors, such as age, weight and use of certain medications, can also contribute to secondary infertility.

