Dr. Max Gomez: Dealing With Second Child Infertility
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- Infertility is a problem for millions of couples even though some of them have already had a child.
As CBS 2's Dr. Max Gomez reported, the growing problem is known as second child infertility.
"Being a mom is everything I ever dreamed of and more," Amy Wruble said, "We were able to have this beautiful healthy child so I figured certainly we should be able to have another one. Yet, it has been much tougher this time."
An estimated 3,000,000 women in the U.S. can't get pregnant or carry a baby to term successfully despite having done so once due to the increasingly common condition.
"I am deep down inside jealous and frustrated," Amy said, "You know, why not me?"
Fertility experts said that secondary infertility is not discussed often enough.
"The incidence of secondary infertility has increased. A lot of people think, 'oh you have a baby, you should be fine,'" Dr. Joseph Hill said.
The increase in cases of secondary infertility has to do in part with the fact that women are waiting longer to have kids, but there are other possible factors including some problems that can be traced to a woman's first delivery.
"If there was a prolonged labor, even a silent infection, c-sections may be likely to cause superficial adhesions that could distort anatomically the relationship of the fallopian tubes to the ovaries," Dr. Hill said.
Lifestyle habits can also add wear and tear that may reduce fertility rates.
"Obesity, smoking, alcohol, nutritional status in general," Dr. Hill said.
Amy is now in her early 40s and feels blessed to have her daughter in her life.
"It's just that I loved having her and raising her through her babyhood so much. Why wouldn't I want to do it again?" she said, "I do. I want to do it again."
Experts said that women who are over the age of 35 and haven't been able to get pregnant within six months of trying should consult their OB-GYN or a fertility specialist because determining the problem and the solution can require a lot of testing.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
