10 july 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : An increasing number of Indian couples are being diagnosed with secondary infertility—the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term after previously having one or more biological children without assisted reproductive treatment. Fertility specialists say changing lifestyles, delayed family planning, underlying health conditions, and age-related factors are contributing to the growing trend.
Unlike primary infertility, which affects couples who have never conceived, secondary infertility can come as an unexpected emotional challenge for families who assume conceiving again will be straightforward.
What Is Secondary Infertility?
Secondary infertility is typically diagnosed when a couple is unable to achieve pregnancy after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse (or after 6 months if the woman is 35 or older), despite having conceived naturally in the past.
Experts stress that fertility can change over time due to several medical and lifestyle factors affecting either partner.
Common Causes
Doctors say multiple factors may contribute to secondary infertility, including:
- Increasing maternal age, leading to a decline in egg quantity and quality.
- Reduced sperm quality due to age, smoking, obesity, or environmental exposures.
- Hormonal disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid disease.
- Endometriosis, which can affect fertility.
- Blocked fallopian tubes following infections or previous surgeries.
- Complications from previous pregnancies or deliveries in some cases.
- Obesity or being underweight, which can disrupt reproductive hormones.
- Chronic conditions such as diabetes or autoimmune diseases.
- Lifestyle factors, including stress, poor diet, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and lack of physical activity.
Why Cases Are Increasing in India
Specialists attribute the rise in diagnoses to several factors:
- Couples are delaying their second child because of career, financial, or personal reasons.
- Greater awareness and improved access to fertility testing are leading to earlier diagnosis.
- Sedentary lifestyles and increasing obesity are affecting reproductive health.
- Rising prevalence of metabolic disorders, including diabetes and thyroid disease.
Symptoms and When to Seek Help
The main sign is difficulty conceiving after previously having a child. Women may also experience irregular menstrual cycles, painful periods, or pelvic pain, depending on the underlying cause.
Doctors recommend consulting a fertility specialist if pregnancy does not occur after one year of trying (or six months if the woman is over 35 years of age).
Diagnosis and Treatment
Evaluation generally includes:
- Medical history and physical examination.
- Hormone testing.
- Ovulation assessment.
- Semen analysis.
- Ultrasound imaging.
- Tests to assess the uterus and fallopian tubes.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include lifestyle modifications, medications to stimulate ovulation, surgery for specific conditions, intrauterine insemination (IUI), or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Healthy Habits That May Support Fertility
Experts recommend maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol, managing stress, getting adequate sleep, and seeking timely medical advice if conception is delayed.
A Growing Health Concern
Doctors emphasize that secondary infertility is a medical condition affecting both men and women and should not be viewed as a personal failure. Early evaluation and appropriate treatment can improve the chances of a successful pregnancy, depending on the underlying cause and individual circumstances.