- With Mayo Clinic obstetrician and medical editor-in-chief
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
"Nothing helps people stay healthy more than the power of real knowledge about health." — Dr. Roger Harms
As medical director of content, Dr. Roger Harms is excited about the potential for Mayo Clinic's health information site to help educate people about their health and provide them the tools and information to live healthier lives.
The Auburn, Neb., native has been with Mayo Clinic since 1981 and is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Harms is a practicing physician and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and his specialty areas include office gynecology, high-risk obstetrics and obstetrical ultrasound.
From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Harms was director for education at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dr. Harms was the 1988 Mayo Medical School Teacher of the Year and served as associate dean for student affairs and academic affairs. He is the co-author of the "Mayo Clinic Model of Education." In 2008, Dr. Harms was presented the Distinguished Educator Award, Mayo Clinic, Rochester.
Dr. Harms is vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and medical editor of the Pregnancy section on this website. In addition, Dr. Harms is editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" book, a month-by-month guide to everything a woman needs to know about having a baby.
"My medical education experience has grown out of a love of teaching, and that is what this site is about," Dr. Harms says. "If any visitor to this site makes a more informed and thus more comfortable decision about his or her health because of the information we provide, we are successful."
Tests and diagnosis (1)
- Is a home sperm test useful?
Causes (6)
- Fallopian tubes: Is pregnancy possible with only one?
- Semen allergy: A cause of infertility?
- Abnormal sperm morphology: What does it mean?
- see all in Causes
Treatments and drugs (1)
- Fertility herbs: Do they enhance fertility?
Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Question
Secondary infertility: Why does it happen?
I'm having trouble conceiving another child. Why does secondary infertility happen?
Answer
from Roger W. Harms, M.D.
Secondary infertility — the inability to get pregnant despite having frequent, unprotected sex for at least a year by a couple who previously had a child — shares many of the same causes of primary infertility.
For example, male infertility can be caused by impaired sperm production, function or delivery. Female infertility can be related to fallopian tube damage, ovulation disorders, endometriosis and uterine conditions. Sometimes, however, secondary infertility stems from complications related to prior pregnancies. Changes in your and your partner's risk factors, such as age, weight and use of certain medications, can also contribute to secondary infertility.
If you're experiencing secondary infertility, talk to your health care provider. Depending on the circumstances, both you and your partner might need medical evaluations. A woman's gynecologist or a man's urologist can help determine whether there's an issue that requires a specialist or treatment at a fertility clinic.
Secondary infertility can be surprising and stressful. Don't try to cope alone. Seek support from your partner, family and friends as you talk to your health care provider about the next steps.
Next questionMale masturbation: Does frequency affect male fertility?
- Schorge JO, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=3157679. Accessed Dec. 13, 2010.
- Kamel RM. Management of the infertile couple: An evidence-based protocol. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. 2010;8:21.
- Walsh TJ, et al. Differences in the clinical characteristics of primarily and secondarily infertile men with varicocele. Fertility and Sterility. 2009;91:826.
- Davis CH, et al. What is the best way to evaluate secondary infertility? The Journal of Family Practice. 2007;56:573.
- Kuohung W, et al. Infertility overview. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 13, 2010.
- Frequently asked questions about infertility. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine. http://www.reproductivefacts.org/awards/index.aspx?id=3012. Accessed Dec. 13, 2010.
- Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Accessed Dec. 21, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on