And what to say instead.

Millions of women in the United States face secondary infertility — a very common, but misunderstood condition.

In this article printed in the Huffington Post, Catherine Pearson, Women & Parents Senior Reporter, asks our own Dr. Katherine Melzer Ross about secondary infertility — what you should not say, and perhaps more important, what you should!

Lee Rubin Collins had her first baby in the mid 1990s, and the whole experience was such a joy, she says, she and her husband immediately said, “Let’s keep doing this!” They got pregnant easily the first time around, so she was surprised when they tried and tried… and nothing happened. Ultimately, it took two years of fertility treatment, five cycles of in vitro fertilization, and one miscarriage before Collins was able to have another child, making her one of the millions of women in the United States who face secondary infertility.

Click here to read the full article.

What is secondary infertility?

If a couple has already given birth without the use of medical support or fertility medications and finds themselves unable to get pregnant or experiences recurrent miscarriages, they may be diagnosed with secondary infertility if:

• They have been trying for one year if the woman is less than 35 or
• They have been trying for 6 months if the woman is older than 35

What causes infertility?

There are many possible causes of infertility. However, no matter the underlying cause, talking with a specialist is the best way to resolve those issues. Friends and family mean well, but sometimes their helpful “advice” is anything but helpful! Understanding infertility is the first step in knowing when it’s time to see a specialist.

Original post May 13, 2016
Updated October 14, 2021