Secondary Infertility: When Conceiving Again Becomes a Struggle

You had your first child without much difficulty. The pregnancy might not have been perfect, but it happened. Everyone assumes the second time will be the same. Yet months turn into years, and the baby you hoped to welcome never comes. The shock of struggling to conceive after already being a parent has a name: secondary infertility.

Secondary infertility is more common than most people think. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infertility affects about 17.5% of adults globally, and a significant number are couples who already have a child. In Kenya, doctors are seeing a rising number of families experiencing this quiet struggle. Because society equates parenthood with fertility, people often assume that if you’ve had one child, you’ll easily have another. When it doesn’t happen, couples face confusion, stigma, and sometimes blame from their own families.

Several factors can cause secondary infertility. Conditions like blocked fallopian tubes, fibroids, or endometriosis can develop after the first pregnancy. Untreated infections, including some sexually transmitted ones, may also cause complications. For men, sperm count and quality can change with age, lifestyle choices, or underlying health conditions. Age remains a significant factor for women, as egg quality and quantity naturally decline over time.

Desire

What makes secondary infertility especially painful is the expectation from those around you. Friends ask, “When is the little one getting a sibling?” Relatives joke about “not waiting too long.” Parents who long to give their child a brother or sister quietly carry the pressure of both personal desire and public scrutiny.

Yet, there is hope. Modern fertility treatments offer solutions that didn’t exist for previous generations. Simple interventions like ovulation tracking, hormonal support, or surgical corrections can make a difference. For others, assisted reproductive technologies like intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) may be recommended. Emotional support also matters. Speaking openly with a doctor or joining a support group can ease the weight of isolation.

Action

If you or someone you know is facing secondary infertility, the first step is to seek medical advice rather than waiting in silence. A fertility assessment can help identify possible causes and guide the next steps. Couples should also remember that they are not alone. Many Kenyan families have walked this path, and conversations around fertility are slowly becoming less taboo.

As ParentsAfrica, we believe these stories need to be heard. That’s why we invite you to the Fertility Awareness Event on 30th August 2025 at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Westlands. Specialists, lived-experience voices, and support organisations will be ther

e to answer questions and provide guidance in a stigma-free environment. Sometimes, the journey to growing your family requires science, patience, and compassion in equal measure. This event is a chance to find all three.

READ ALSO: https://parentsafrica.com/understanding-fertility-the-unseen-struggles/