The better prognosis in secondary infertility is associated with a higher proportion of ovulation disorders

Fertil Steril. 1986 May;45(5):611-6. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)49330-1.

Abstract

To determine the reason for the higher pregnancy rate in couples with secondary infertility, the authors compared 237 infertile couples who had a previous pregnancy in the current partnership (secondary infertility) with 135 infertile couples in whom the woman had been pregnant only in a previous partnership and 925 couples with primary infertility. Couples with secondary infertility had the highest proportion of ovulation disorders (36%); these couples with secondary infertility and an ovulation disorder had the shortest duration of infertility (26 months). Cumulative pregnancy rates at 36 months were 56% in secondary fertility, 44% in primary infertility, and 42% in pregnancy in a previous partnership (P = 0.001). In this study, the better prognosis in secondary infertility may be related to the higher proportion of couples with ovulation disorders, who had a shorter duration of infertility. Abortion rates in the earlier pregnancies with current or previous partners were 37% and 30%, respectively; after the period of infertility, the abortion rates were 14% and 12%, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / epidemiology
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Anovulation* / complications
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infertility* / etiology
  • Infertility, Female* / etiology
  • Male
  • Parity
  • Pregnancy
  • Prognosis
  • Time Factors