Fact or Fiction: Women who have given birth won't have any trouble getting pregnant again.

Feb 17

Many capable, accomplished women assume that because they conceived and carried a pregnancy to term once, the next time will be straightforward. It’s a reasonable expectation—until it isn’t. If you’re in your late 20s, 30s, or early 40s and finding yourself surprised by months (or years) of unsuccessful trying after a previous successful birth, you are not alone, and this is not a personal shortcoming.

This belief is fiction. Secondary infertility—the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy after having at least one previous live birth—is just as common as primary infertility and affects approximately 11% of couples in the United States. Globally, it accounts for a significant portion of all infertility cases, with prevalence rates reaching 10.5% among women who have already had a child.

The good news? With a structured, root-cause approach, many women in this exact situation achieve natural conception or optimized outcomes. Let’s examine the evidence-based reasons this can happen and what a clear, organized path forward looks like.

Why Conception May Not Happen the Second Time: Common, Addressable Reasons

Secondary infertility rarely appears without explanation. Here are the most frequent, science-supported contributors:

Age-Related Decline in Egg Quality and Quantity Fertility naturally decreases with age, even after a prior successful pregnancy. Egg quantity and quality drop more noticeably after 35, leading to longer time-to-conception and higher miscarriage risk. This is one of the leading reasons for secondary infertility.
Hormonal Imbalances, Including PCOS Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of ovulatory dysfunction in secondary infertility cases. It can emerge, worsen, or become more noticeable after pregnancy due to weight changes, insulin resistance, or postpartum hormonal shifts.
Endometriosis Progression or Inflammation Endometriosis can continue or intensify after childbirth. Inflammation, scarring, and distorted pelvic anatomy can impair egg quality, implantation, and tubal function—even if it wasn’t diagnosed during your first pregnancy. (Download my free guide 7 WAYS TO REDUCE INFLAMMATION)
Uterine or Tubal Changes Prior cesarean sections, postpartum infections, or adhesions can create uterine niches, fibroids, polyps, or tubal blockages. These structural issues are more common in secondary infertility and often go undetected without targeted evaluation.
Male Factor Contributions Approximately one-third of secondary infertility cases involve male-factor issues. Sperm parameters can decline with age, lifestyle changes, stress, or health conditions that develop between pregnancies.
Lifestyle and Environmental Shifts Weight fluctuations, sleep disruption, chronic stress, smoking, or environmental exposures can subtly alter hormone balance and reproductive function over time.
Thyroid Dysfunction, Autoimmune Factors, or Unexplained Causes Postpartum thyroid changes are common, and subtle immune or inflammatory imbalances can affect implantation. Up to 30% of cases remain “unexplained” after standard testing—yet a deeper functional assessment often reveals optimizable factors.

These are not random obstacles. They are identifiable patterns that respond well to precise, individualized intervention.

Moving Forward with Clarity and Confidence

You’ve already proven your body is capable of pregnancy. The goal now is to identify exactly what has shifted and create a targeted plan to restore optimal function—for both you and your partner.

A functional fertility approach does exactly that: comprehensive assessment of hormones, inflammation, nutrient status, gut health, and lifestyle, followed by a personalized strategy that addresses root causes rather than masking symptoms. This is the foundation of my 6-month signature program, The Master Fertility Blueprint.

In the Master Fertility Blueprint, we conduct an extensive health assessment for both partners and build a step-by-step, results-oriented roadmap to naturally optimize fertility. Women who have experienced secondary infertility often see significant improvements in cycle regularity, symptom reduction, and conception success when the right factors are addressed systematically.

You are in charge in every other area of your life. Your fertility journey deserves the same strategic approach.

If you’re ready to replace uncertainty with a clear, evidence-based plan, I invite you to book your free Natural TTC Strategy Call. In 45 minutes (or less) we’ll review your history, uncover the most likely contributing factors, and determine whether The Master Fertility Blueprint is the right next step for you.

You’ve already done the hardest part—recognizing the need for a better approach. Let’s build your blueprint together.

References

Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Secondary Infertility. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21139-secondary-infertility
Mascarenhas, M. N., et al. (2012). National, Regional, and Global Trends in Infertility Prevalence Since 1990: A Systematic Analysis of 277 Health Surveys. PLOS Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001356
Medical News Today. (2022). Secondary infertility: Causes, statistics, treatment options, and more. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/secondary-infertility (citing CDC and PMC studies)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Survey of Family Growth (2015–2019). Infertility and Impaired Fecundity in Women and Men in the United States. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr202.pdf
RMA Network. Secondary Infertility: Causes & Treatments Explained. https://rmanetwork.com/blog/secondary-infertility-morin/
Penn Medicine. Secondary Infertility – Causes and Treatments. https://www.pennmedicine.org/conditions/secondary-infertility
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Practice Committee. (2021). Fertility evaluation of infertile women: a committee opinion. Fertility and Sterility.