What Are the Best Treatments for Secondary Infertility?

Hi Emily! My husband and I are currently struggling with secondary infertility, and I am starting to feel a little desperate. Naturally, my search algorithm has started to bombard me with ads for everything from special prenatal vitamins to fertility tea. My question is, does any of it work? Is any of it safe to try? The idea of some of the herbal ingredients makes me anxious.
—Thanks in Advance

First of all: I am so sorry to hear this. Secondary infertility (the inability to conceive a pregnancy after having at least one birth) is common but underdiscussed. It can be unexpected and surprising in ways that primary infertility is not. Secondary infertility happens for many reasons. As with primary infertility, it’s often unexplained.

The treatments for secondary infertility are the same as those for primary infertility, likely because the causes are similar. And as in the case of primary infertility, I’m afraid that teas and herbal supplements are not first-line treatments. If the ingredients make you anxious, that should be a bit of a red flag. Prenatal vitamins are useful in delivering folic acid and iron, and that’s about it. They are not a fertility solution.

Your best bet at this point is to talk with your doctor; there are good treatments for infertility, both primary and secondary. We’ll all be thinking of you.