New Delhi, June 19 -- Having one child is often assumed to settle the fertility question. If conception happened once, many couples believe it will happen again. This assumption is also common among family members and can even delay timely medical evaluation. However, secondary infertility, which refers to difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy after at least one previous pregnancy or birth, is more common than many couples realise. In several cases, the reasons are not linked to the first pregnancy.

Secondary infertility is an important but under-discussed concern in India. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Reproductive Health in 2026, covering Indian studies from 1997 to 2023, estimated the prevalence of seconda...