Hysterosalpingographic Findings Among Infertile Women: Review at a Tertiary Health Care Institution in Nnewi, South-east Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tubal pathology is a key factor in infertility particularly in the tropics. Hysterosalpinography remains a vital tool for investigating tubal patency. OBJECTIVE: This was to determine the pattern of hysterosalpingographic (HSG) findings among infertile womeninatertiaryhealth care institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS The case files of 183 infertile women who had HSG between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2010 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, South-east Nigeria were reviewed retrospectively. The data was analysed using Epiinfo 2008version5.3.1. RESULTS: A total of 183 patients out of 320 new patients investigated for tubal factor infertility were reviewed. Their ages ranged from 25 to 49 years with a mean age of 34 .1 ± 6.3 years. Forty three patients (23.5%) had primary infertility while 143(76.5%) had secondary infertility. The commonest tubal pathology was bilateral tubal blockage 71(38.8%). Nine (4.9%) patients had right tubal occlusion, 23(12.6%) had left tubal occlusion, 8(4.4%) had right-sided hydrosalpinx while 15(8.2%)had left-sided hydrosalpinx. CONCLUSION: Bilateral tubal occlusion remains the major tubal pathology in female infertility in Nnewi, Nigeria. This may probably occur following sexually transmitted infections, mismanaged pregnancies and septic abortions, since the majority of the women presented with secondary infertility. Measures to prevent the occurrence of these infectionsabinitio are paramount.

Keywords: Hysterosalpingography, infertile women, Nnewi