Secondary Infertility: A Scoping Review of Psychosocial Dimensions, Clinical Challenges, and the Role of Psychologists

Description

Page: 426-432

Shreya Bakshi (Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh)

Secondary infertility-the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term after a previous live birth-is a multifaceted issue with medical, emotional, and sociocultural implications. Despite its prevalence, it remains under-discussed compared to primary infertility, especially in psychological and public health domains. This scoping review aims to synthesize existing literature on secondary infertility with a specific focus on its psychosocial dimensions, etiology, clinical assessment, and the role of psychological interventions in its management. This review incorporated data from empirical studies, clinical reports, and theoretical frameworks drawn from medical and psychological databases. Literature was selected based on relevance to secondary infertility, psychosocial impacts, and mental health interventions. Psychological models, assessment tools (e.g., SCREENIVF, FertiQOL), and therapeutic approaches were also analyzed. Findings reveal that secondary infertility is often influenced by uterine, ovarian, tubal, hormonal, and lifestyle-related factors. Psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, guilt, identity issues, and strained marital relationships, was significantly more pronounced in women with secondary infertility. Social stigma, cultural expectations, and internalized grief contribute to emotional burden. Intervention strategies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, grief counseling, and mind-body programs have shown promise in enhancing psychological well-being and even improving conception outcomes. There is a critical need for integrative care models that recognize secondary infertility as both a medical and psychological condition. Psychologists play a pivotal role in early identification, assessment, and therapeutic intervention, thereby improving outcomes and quality of life for affected individuals and couples.