How secondary infertility treatment helps patients become parents again
Secondary infertility treatment at our Southern California fertility clinic helps patients who have been unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term after already having one or more children. This is a common fertility challenge that can feel incredibly frustrating. However, with the right support, patients can move beyond this hurdle and fulfill their dream of having more children.
Why patients might experience secondary infertility
One reason a patient cannot conceive after already having one or more children is that they have a new partner. This person could have fertility issues that their former partner did not have. When a new partner is not a factor, the cause of secondary infertility could be the development of new fertility challenges in one or both partners since having their last child.
Common fertility challenges that can cause a woman to have trouble conceiving include ovulation disorders, endometriosis, growths in the uterus or a decreased egg supply due to age. In a man, a reduction in his sperm quality or quantity could make it difficult for him to contribute to the conception of a healthy baby.
To help patients determine why they’re struggling to have more children, the doctors at our Southern California fertility clinic first order fertility tests. These tests begin with an examination of the patient’s medical history. Doing so allows the doctor to develop a comprehensive view of the patient’s health and fertility. Next, the doctor will likely order a physical exam, bloodwork and an ultrasound for the female patient. Men often receive a semen analysis. In some situations, the doctor will recommend more in-depth testing.
Secondary infertility treatment that can help patients conceive a healthy pregnancy
After the fertility tests, the doctor will analyze the results and recommend a secondary infertility treatment plan. They will customize this plan to meet the unique needs of the patient. There are a variety of effective treatments that the specialists at our Southern California fertility clinic may recommend.
In vitro fertilization, or IVF. This treatment requires the female patient to take ovulation induction medications to cause her ovaries to mature multiple eggs. After the woman’s eggs are mature, the doctor retrieves them. Next, the doctor sends the eggs to our lab where an embryologist fertilizes them with sperm from the woman’s partner or a donor. The doctor then performs an embryo transfer using one of the resulting embryos.
Intrauterine insemination, or IUI. An IUI consists of a doctor using a catheter to place sperm from the woman’s partner or donor into her uterus the day after she ovulates. In preparation for the procedure, the woman tracks her ovulation.
IUI and clomiphene citrate. If a woman is struggling to ovulate, the doctor might recommend an oral medication called clomiphene citrate, or Clomid, before her IUI procedure.
The skilled specialists at our clinic help patients determine which treatments are right for them. They then help patients take the next exciting step on their path to having more children. Contact us for more information about secondary infertility treatment.