Endometrial Tuberculosis i ninfertility: Report of 2 cases and a review of the literature

Tuberculosis is a chronic granulomatous disease affecting human and many other mammals. Most human diseases are caused by M.tuberculosis but some are due to M.bovis.(1). Tuberculosis of the tubes and endometrium is intimately bound to the problem of sterility. Despite the decline in frequency of genital tuberculosis in industrialized world coupled with widespread use of antibiotics worldwide, it still remain a possible cause of female infertility especially in developing world.(2) It was the commonest diagnosis among infertile population in India (3), Malaysia (4) and Saudi Arabia (5). Nigeria, U.S.A., and Pakistan have reported a low and infrequent findings (6,7,8). Endometrial tuberculosis seems to occur when the ovaries and uterus are in a state of activity (9) and it derives its significance as a clinical entity because of its tendency in focusing on those in these reproductive age group. Tuberculosis of the genital tract gives rise to few symptoms especially in its mild or moderate phase, its discovery is usually made unexpectedly but will render a large percentage of infected women sterile unless detected and treated adequately in its earliest phases. The cases presented below is to highlight its clinical presentation and to serve as a reminder that pelvic tuberculosis still exist and will not disappear unless tuberculosis is completely eradicated. African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 8 (1) 2007: pp. 35-3