Secondary Infertility

Has anyone on here been dealing with secondary infertility?

I have a son that is 17 months old. we have been actively TTC for 6 months now with no luck. I have been using OPKs so our timing is right, but we haven't had any luck yet. I am turning 34 soon and my husband just turned 37.

I made an appointment with my regular OB/GYN but I am wondering if I should skip that and go straight to a RE. I have always felt that something was wrong and that I would have problems getting pregnant. I was completely shocked when it only took 3 months with my son. Now that it's taking a little longer, even though I still expected to have difficulty, I am really disappointed. I have never had a reason to think something is wrong except that i didn't get my period until I was almost 15 and it has always been very irregular.

I have so many conflicting emotions right now - I am so grateful to have my son, and if he is the only child I can have I am fine with that, but I am just feeling so discouraged lately.

I was just hoping that maybe some others are dealing with/have dealt with secondary infertility and can give me some words of wisdom or advice on dealing with it. I know I am not even at the point yet that we have determined there is a problem, but my doc is going to send me for all the tests and I just feel like I need to be prepared.

Thanks in advance. Any thoughts or advice would be welcome. Even if you just want to tell me that it's only been 6 months and to quit whining!

Re: Secondary Infertility

If you feel like you wanna see an RE then I would go for it...cant hurt...know what I mean? But at the same time I heard many many times that even for the healthiest couple with no IF issues it could take up to 1 year to conceive. Every month the average couple has about a 10-20% chance of conceiving if BD timing is perfect.....so in all honesty I wouldnt worry yet. But like I said seeing an RE for an opinion wouldnt hurt. i'm sure you'll be fine

Re: Secondary Infertility

I agree with Lisa, you need to feel comfortable. If you want to see an RE, then you should go to one.

Good luck!

Re: Secondary Infertility

At 6 months of trying, I wouldn't say you are dealing with secondary infertility, just yet, but you do have to trust your instincts.

When I conceived Alex it was easy as pie - I went off the pill, conceived the first month trying, miscarried, and conceived within one week again. So when we started to think about TTC for #2 we thought it would happen within a number of months.

I went off the pill in January '07. Started actively trying in March. Started temping and using the CBEFM in June. By October I knew something was wrong - I just knew it. We hadn't been trying for a full year but my instincts told me to just go ahead and make an appointment with an RE, which I did, and I'm SO glad I did instead of wasting any more time because it took another year before we conceived, with IVF, under her care.

Secondary infertility is a beast - you never quite fit in, neither with women who are experiencing infertility the first time, or with friends who are moving easily to their 2nd or 3rd kids. It's a nebulous zone that carries with it a tremendous amount of guilt and unique emotions. I found the best way to deal with it was to find other outlets - like, working out, and to confront those emotions head on with DH, and with the help of therapy

Re: Secondary Infertility

At your age (I am 34 also, so don't take offense to that) I think it'd be wise to see an RE after 6 mos of trying, but there is no harm in going sooner. I got PG with DS our first month of "seeing what happens". This time around I got pg the 2nd month and 7th month, bot of which ended in mc's at 5 weeks. After the 2nd chemical my OB suggested I see an RE since as he put it "I am past my baby making prime". Yes those were his exact words hence he is no longer my OB!!! I agree with the above poster also, it is hard to deal with secondary infertility for many reasons. One of the hardest for me being I don't really "fit in" anywhere. I have requested a secondary infertilit board so we'll see. Maybe we will get it. Good luck and I'm always willing to help or share my experience where I can. Good luck!

Re: Secondary Infertility

i have secondary and unexplained IF.
after conceiving the very first month of trying.. (we lost that baby) but i couldnt get pregnant for nothing after that.. it took another 6 or so months to get PG again. which resulted in another loss.. but here i am .. still trying.

i think i would go straight to the RE.. and age plays a role in that as well !

Re: Secondary Infertility

Yep, I am a secondary infertility gal here. Conceived my son after two years (but PCOS had my cycles really messed up, once they straightened out, it only took a few months) but since having him I have had 4 miscarriages, the last being an ectopic that ruptured my tube. My OB suggested that I see an RE after my third loss (but I am much older than you).

It wouldn't hurt to see one if you feel that something is wrong. Good luck!

Re: Secondary Infertility

I'd definitely go see an RE. It's not a guarantee that they will figure out whats going on, but its a better chance than just sticking with your OB.

Re: Secondary Infertility

Hi,
Another Secondary Infertility gal here.
I say trust your gut. If you think something is wrong and you want to go- go. I went after 6 months and a m/c.... but I'm also older than you are, I'm 39. After another 6 months and 2 failed IUI's, that Dr. wanted me to go for IVF. I just felt that IVF would be fine if I've exhausted all other possibilities and there was no other explanation. He just kept saying it was my age ONLY. I finally did what I should've done after the first IUI- went to the Dr. I heard so many good things about. After all the blood work (which the other Dr. never ordered ?? ) We know exactly what the issues are.

Again, trust your gut.

Re: Secondary Infertility

Thank you all so much for your responses. I have the appt with my regular OB so I guess I will go and see what he has to say and tell him that I want to see an RE. Any more input is more than welcome!

Re: Secondary Infertility

I am, but my situation is a bit differnt. If I were you I would go see your OB and see hwat they say. If you still have a nagging feling then make an appointment with the RE. I always say go with your gut! Good Luck.