1 out of 5 women in UAE suffers from secondary infertility

Secondary infertility refers to the inability of women to conceive after having a child earlier.

Secondary infertility is approximately double in the UAE with one in every five women facing issues, according to health experts.
Secondary infertility refers to the inability of women to conceive after having a child earlier. Global studies indicate that one in eight couples suffer from infertility, in fact, according to a recent research, 11 per cent of couples who already have a child go on to experience secondary infertility. That's approximately four million families or about half of all infertility cases.
"A lot of patients who come to our clinic suffer from secondary infertility. Just like primary infertility, secondary infertility can be equally heart-breaking and requires the same treatment approach as a primary infertility diagnosis, but it is rarely met with the same amount of empathy and support," said Dr Laura Melado, IVF Specialist, IVI Middle East Fertility in Abu Dhabi.
"It is important to raise awareness, give clarity and encourage people struggling to get the support they need," she said.
Secondary infertility isn't a specific disease or condition. It is seen in couples dealing with inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term, after the birth of one or more children. There are several factors that can lead to secondary infertility, the most important being advanced age, overweight or underweight problems, lack of sun exposure, consanguinity, hormonal conditions, and damage from previous pregnancies as problems with previous C-section scar or even lifestyle changes.
Dr Gul E Rana, specialist obstetrics and gynecologist, Canadian Specialist Hospital, said the issue is quite common in the UAE. "According to statistics, one in five women experiencing infertility issues face secondary infertility, which is approximately double than other parts of the world. As infertility centres are well established here, most couples just come for treatment," she said.
She, however, said that patients of secondary infertility are very low in the clinic. "Maybe because such procedures aren't covered by the insurance. Many couples consult directly to IVF clinic or infertility centres as the awareness levels are high with the public. Roughly, we would see around 2-3 per cent patients for secondary infertility," she said.
Dr Laura said that infertility is often considered as a taboo and for women suffering from secondary infertility, it is no better.
"Most women who suffer secondary infertility undergo depression, which many times, strains a couple's relationship. While it's not easy to come to terms with this condition, we recommend patients that if they've experienced several miscarriages, irregular menstrual cycles, or have had an unsuccessful conception after trying for six to 12 months, it is important to see a specialist," she said.
"There are so many emotions that go through you when you are struggling to conceive and you realise that you are not pregnant. It is  difficult to understand for a woman who got pregnant easily earlier, why she is not getting pregnant again. We want to let women who suffer from this condition know that they are not alone," added Dr Laura.
Infertility can be an isolating experience, and to ensure women don't struggle in silence. "Couples who face secondary infertility can also have a difficult time finding the right support from family and friends. While lack of sensitivity is common, there are a variety of resources couples can and should opt to deal with this condition. Consultation with a fertility specialist is the first step towards a new beginning and we encourage couples struggling to conceive to seek help," concluded Dr Laura.
According to Dr Rana, treatment and success rate depend upon reason and age of female partner. "For those suffering from  polycystic ovarian syndrome, the success rate is good with medicine; and for tubal reason and male factor infertility, the success rate is good with IVF. If we compare birth rate with couple who never have baby (primary infertility), secondary infertile couple have more chances to conceive," she said.

KT NANO EDIT

Need for support
Infertility, primary or secondary, can be debilitating. And when psychological symptoms interfere with the condition and its treatment, the need to address these issues gains importance. While some patients find a way to cope on their own or seek support from family or support groups, others need additional help which can be in the form of counselling, and in some cases, even medication. The onus, however lies on the family, friends and the society at large to provide this.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com