FEMALE INFERTILITY

A STUDY OF SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND ETIOLOGICAL PROFILE IN ABBOTTABAD

Abstract

Objectives: To find the prevalence and etiology of female infertility as well as
to study the associated biochemical abnormalities. Place and Duration of Study: Department
of Gynecology, Frontier Medical & Dental College, Abbottabad, from July 2016 to June 2017.
Study Design: Case-control study. Materials & Methods: All married patients between the
ages of 18-35 years were included in the study. Sixty patients who met eligibility criteria were
included in one group while sixty normal healthy individuals were included in the second group
as controls. Detailed history was taken focusing specifically on age and duration of marriage,
menstrual and sexual history and drug history especially use of contraceptives. A thorough
clinical examination was performed by an experienced clinician and body mass index was
calculated. Laboratory investigations included complete blood examination, hormonal assays,
ultrasonography in female patients and semen analysis in male partners. Tubal patency was
assessed by hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy was performed, if required. Results: The
mean age of infertile patients was 27.4±4.9 years and mean duration of their marriage was
6.6±2.9 years. Majority of patients in our study belonged to lower socio-economic status in
both groups. About 50% belonged to lower and 16.67% to poor socio-economic group among
infertile subjects while 60% belonged to lower and 10% to poor socio-economic group among
controls. The chief presenting complaint was oligomenorrhea followed by galactorrhea and
dyspareunia. The chiefunderlying condition was luteal phase deficiency, 60%, followed by
hyperprolactinemia, 16.66%, and polycystic ovarian disease, 10%, fibroid uterus, 6.7%, and
endometriosis, 6.7%. The serum estradiol levels were 114.6±48.7pg/ml and 233.2±70.8 pg/
ml in follicular and luteal phase among infertile couples. Similarly, serum progesterone, serum
prolactin, serum FSH and LH levels were 3.6±4.2 ng/ml, 18.1±12 ng/ml, 6.7±2.7 mIU/ml, and
7±6.6 mIU/ml among infertile patients respectively. Serum estradiol and prolactin levels were
significantly higher among infertile patients. Conclusion: Infertility is not a very uncommon
condition in our country. It is the need of time to increase awareness and educate masses
about infertility as well as establish infertility clinics for early detection and treatment of infertile
couples. Large scale multi-centric studies should also be conducted to accurately estimate the
prevalence and etiology of infertility in our region.