Outcome of infertility consultations in a tropical tertiary health institution in Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: To examine the outcome of gynaecological consultations for infertility in a tropical Teaching Health facility. Material & Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of infertility cases seen at the Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso over a year (16 October 2010 to 15 October 2011). The patients were followed up for twelve months thereafter. Data collection was done using a designed proforma. All patients coming for gynaecological consultations because of infertility within the study period were included in the study after giving their informed consent. Patient information recorded in the proforma included age, parity, educational status, occupation, duration of infertility, investigations, modality of treatment and treatment outcome. Outcome was measured by the number of live births amongst treated patients. Results: A total of 195 patients presented for gynaecological consultations during the one-year period; infertility was one of the commonest reasons for gynaecological consultation, accounting for 38.5% (75) of the cases. Tubal factor, 25(33.5%) was the commonest etiological cause. The treatment modality involved myomectomy (20,26.6%), ovulation induction (20, 26.6%), laparoscopic adhesiolysis (8, 10.7%) and tubal surgery (5, 6.7%). Treatment of infertility resulted in 10 (13.3%) live births, with ovulation induction giving the highest percentage of live births (5, 50%). Conclusion: The outcome of the treatment of infertility is poor. Therefore, establishing a standard assisted reproductive technology (ART) unit will be of immense value in improving the outcome.