Family Planning & Fertility Education
Mamas&Papas|March 2017

If a woman can fall pregnant once (or twice) with ease, and carry the pregnancy to term, then she’s fertile and will be able to fall pregnant gain without any issues... right? Not so, says Fulvia Stoltz who explores changing the nature of the conversation

Fulvia Stoltz
Family Planning & Fertility Education

If you ask any woman who’s had to deal with the reality of secondary infertility, she’ll tell you how deeply this notion hurts her. The truth is, the inability to fall pregnant or carry a pregnancy to live birth even after a previous healthy pregnancy and live birth is more common than you might think – and it’s a condition that may become the catalyst for marriage breakdown, family trauma and depression, not to mention a source of financial strain too. So let’s get the facts straight.

IT DOESN’T DISCRIMINATE

There does not appear to be one population group that’s more susceptible than any other. And, according to Dr Merwyn Jacobson, one of the Medical Directors of Vitalab (a specialist fertility clinic in Johannesburg) the global rate of incidence is between 15 and 16 percent of the adult population.

There may be a slightly higher incidence among the lower socioeconomic groups and this is quite likely the result of their lifestyle (they’re less educated about reproductive health, may have a poor diet that affects their fertility and so on).

IT’S ALL IN YOUR AGE

The factors that cause secondary infertility can be split into three groups:

1. Egg factors

2. Sperm factors

3. Mechanical factors having to do with the way the structures in and around the womb and the tubes. For example, endometriosis could affect the healthy function of the uterus.

By far, the most significant factor in secondary fertility is maternal age (egg factors). Jacobson says that a woman who had her first baby easily at age 30 (when her chances of conceiving may fall at 20 percent per month) may find that she cannot fall pregnant again at 35. In those five years, her fertility potential has decreased to about 15 percent per month.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 2017 من Mamas&Papas.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 2017 من Mamas&Papas.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من MAMAS&PAPAS مشاهدة الكل
10 Bad Driving Habits
Mamas&Papas

10 Bad Driving Habits

When you have to spend so much of the day in your car, you’re bound to develop a few less-than-perfect driving habits.

time-read
3 mins  |
April 2019
Dealing With Mouth Injuries
Mamas&Papas

Dealing With Mouth Injuries

Few children make it through their childhood without a split lip or cut tongue. Although most mouth injuries aren’t severe, it’s always best to be prepared to treat them.

time-read
3 mins  |
April 2019
9 Early Signs You Have A ‘Passenger On Board'
Mamas&Papas

9 Early Signs You Have A ‘Passenger On Board'

Some women just know they are pregnant before any tests can confirm it, while other women are months into pregnancy without even noticing. Loren Stow reveals early signs that you may be in the family way.

time-read
3 mins  |
April 2019
10 FAQs You're Too Embarrassed To Ask Your Gynae
Mamas&Papas

10 FAQs You're Too Embarrassed To Ask Your Gynae

It’s always better to go to your annual gynae exam prepared to facilitate a fairly quick ‘in and out’ exam

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2018
The World Is A Stage Ready For Thandeka Zulu
Mamas&Papas

The World Is A Stage Ready For Thandeka Zulu

Loved by many for her melodic voice, singer, songwriter and actress, Thandeka Zulu along with her fiancé, Sabelo Ngema, are about to take on the roles of mom and dad in real life

time-read
6 mins  |
June 2018
Birth In Motion
Mamas&Papas

Birth In Motion

After giving birth to her first-born daughter, Veronica Aphane was left with feelings of discontentment and failure. From that moment on she knew that there had to be more to birthing and she wanted to experience this with all her other births. This is her story…

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2018
Kia Johnson Tv And Radio Presenter
Mamas&Papas

Kia Johnson Tv And Radio Presenter

Kia Johnson Tv And Radio Presenter

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2018
Taming the Pregnant Mind
Mamas&Papas

Taming the Pregnant Mind

Mother of five, Cathrine Versfeld throws the idea of mindfulness on its head in this exploration of taming the thinking mind during pregnancy

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2017
Exercise
Mamas&Papas

Exercise

TO AVOID DURING PREGNANCY

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2018
The Road To Safety
Mamas&Papas

The Road To Safety

All parents want their little ones to be secure; Katherine Swift explores car safety as you transport your most precious cargo around

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2018