The pattern and challenges of infertility management in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Infertility remains a threat to successful reproduction by couples desirous of pregnancy.Objective: To determine the pattern of infertility cases amongst infertile couples seeking care in Lagos University Teaching Hospital as well as challenges in their management.Methods: A review of the management of couples referred for infertility to the gynaecological outpatient clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Nigeria from 1st January 2005 to 31st December 2006.Results: The incidence of infertility was found to be 26.8% of the gynaecological consultations with a mean duration of infertility of 4.3 ± 3.4 years. The mean age of the women was 33.8 ± 5.2 years and 66.1% were nulliparous. Secondary infertility accounted for 80% of cases. Male factors only was the cause in 11.1%, female factor only in 37.8%, both male and female factors in 40% while no cause was identifiable in 11.1%. There was no association between tubal occlusion and a history of induced abortion in this study (p >0.05). There was a high rate of discontinuation of care by their large numbers lost to follow up.Conclusion: Infertility is still a public health problem in Lagos, Nigeria.Keywords: Infertility pattern: causes, incidence, outcome and challenges in careAfrican Health Sciences 2013; 13(4): 1126 - 112