Secondary Infertility

Causes, testing, and what to do when baby #2 (or #3, or #4…) isn’t happening.

What Secondary Infertility?

Secondary infertility is defined as the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term after previously giving birth to one or more biological children—without the use of fertility treatment. In other words, you’ve been pregnant before, but now it’s just not happening. And that can be deeply confusing, frustrating, and isolating.

Because you’ve already had a child, secondary infertility is often dismissed by healthcare providers—or even your own inner circle. But make no mistake: secondary infertility is still infertility. It’s still valid, it’s still hard, and you still deserve answers and support.

Studies show that secondary infertility accounts for over 50% of all infertility cases. So if you're experiencing it? You are far from alone.

Common Causes of Secondary Infertility

There are many possible reasons why getting pregnant again isn’t going as planned—some of which may not have been an issue the first time around.

🧬 Age-Related Factors: Egg quality and quantity decline with age. If you're older than when you had your first child, that may now be a contributing factor.
🧠 Hormonal Imbalances: New or worsening imbalances in hormones like TSH, prolactin, FSH, LH, insulin, or cortisol can disrupt ovulation and conception.
🦠 Thyroid Dysfunction: Thyroid conditions like Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism may develop or progress postpartum.
🌸 PCOS or Endometriosis: These conditions can show up or worsen after childbirth—even if they weren’t a problem before.
🧫 Pelvic or Uterine Issues: C-sections, retained placenta, or uterine scarring (like Asherman’s Syndrome) can affect implantation or future pregnancy.
🧍‍♂️ Male Factor Infertility: Your partner’s sperm quality may have changed due to age, lifestyle, illness, or environmental exposures.
🍽️ Nutrient Depletion: Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the general stress of parenting can leave your body depleted of vital fertility nutrients.
😴 Stress and Lifestyle Factors: Sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, and high stress can all interfere with fertility.

Who Does Secondary Infertility Affect?

Anyone who has had a baby before—and is now struggling to conceive again—can be affected by secondary infertility. It's most often diagnosed in women in their 30s or early 40s, simply because of the age at which many people try for baby #2. But it can happen at any age.

And while it might be easier to dismiss (“at least you have a child”), the emotional toll of secondary infertility is very real. Many women report feeling confused, guilty, isolated, or ashamed—especially when their desire to expand their family isn’t supported or validated.

How is Secondary Infertility Diagnosed?

The process of diagnosing secondary infertility is similar to primary infertility. If you’ve been trying for 6–12 months (depending on your age) without success, it’s time for a full fertility workup. That may include:

🩸 Bloodwork to assess hormone levels like AMH, FSH, LH, estradiol, prolactin, TSH, insulin, and much more. Advanced testing can provide much more insight beyond just the basics.
📅 Cycle tracking or ovulation testing to confirm whether and when you’re ovulating, especially if you haven’t gotten your cycle back so that patterns can be identified and we can determine if your body is even trying.
📷 Pelvic ultrasound to check for fibroids, polyps, cysts, or uterine lining issues.
🔬 Semen analysis for your partner (even if he fathered your first child!) because just like female fertility, male fertility also declines over time.
🔎 Functional testing (like HTMA, DUTCH, or GI-MAP) to identify underlying root causes not detected in standard testing.

How Does Secondary Infertility Affect Your Fertility Journey?

If you had no issues getting pregnant the first time, secondary infertility can feel like it came out of nowhere. You might be wondering:

💭 “Why is this happening now?”
💭 “Did I do something wrong?”
💭 “Is this my body’s way of saying I can’t handle another child?”

Here’s what we want you to know: this is not your fault. And it’s not the end of the road. Many cases of secondary infertility are very fixable—especially when approached with the right testing, data, and a strategic, personalized plan.

We Can Help!

Getting pregnant again doesn’t require you to “just relax,” we promise. It requires the right kind of information—and a plan that makes sense for you.

✨ One mom conceived naturally within 4 months of working with us after trying for baby #2 for over a year. Turns out it was her thyroid.

✨ Another mom got pregnant and had her 2nd at 45, defying all odds of age-related infertility.

✨ Another client got pregnant on the first try after we addressed her postpartum nutrient depletions, immune dysregulation, and inflammation—without IVF.

At The Greenhouse, we specialize in functional fertility care—and that includes supporting women through the unique challenges of secondary infertility.

You deserve support that honors your past and your future. Let’s find out what’s really going on and build a plan that gets you closer to your next baby.

👉 Apply for 1:1 fertility support.

Learn More

📰 Secondary Infertility

📰 Recurrent Losses before 12 weeks

📰 If you are struggling to make it past 12 weeks, this is for you

📰 Short Pregnancy Intervals

📰 Preconception Rituals

📰 What I learned during my first 40 days

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, April 14). Infertility FAQs. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/index.htm
Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. (2020). Diagnostic evaluation of infertility: A committee opinion. Fertility and Sterility, 113(6), 1235–1242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.02.009
Thonneau, P., & Spira, A. (1991). Prevalence of infertility: International data and problems of measurement. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 38(1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/0028-2243(91)90236-H

**Not medical advice. Always consult your doctor before making changes to your health or fertility plan.