Tubal Infertility at The Yaounde Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgery and Human Reproductive Research Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Tubal infertility affects 25% of infertile couples in Cameroon and is the leading cause of female infertility. Methods: We carried out a case-control study at the Yaounde Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgery and Human Reproductive Research Teaching Hospital, from the period of March to May 2021. Women with tubal infertility were grouped as cases and women with no fertility problems were grouped as the controls. Data of interest were sociodemographic, reproductive, surgical, medical, paraclinical, and therapeutic. Chi-square and Fischer's exact tests were used to compare variables. Odds ratios were calculated to determine the association between variables. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Logistic regression analysis was performed to eliminate confounding factors. Results: Of the 205 patients recruited for the study, 67 had tubal infertility representing the cases and 138 with no fertility problems, representing the controls. After multivariate analysis and logistic regression, tubal infertility was associated in our study, with a history of sexually transmitted infections (aOR: 9.4; 95% CI [3.2-27.8]; p<0.001) and ectopic pregnancy (aOR: 13.5 95% CI [1.9-91]; p=0.009). The main diagnostic tools used were: hysterosalpingography alone (55.2%), hysterosalpingography followed by laparoscopy (40.3%). The main therapeutic approaches used were medically assisted reproduction (82.1%) and laparoscopic surgery (44.8%). Conclusion: The independent risk factors for tubal infertility were a history of sexually transmitted infections and ectopic pregnancy. The diagnosis was mainly by hysterosalpingography. Treatment was mainly by medically assisted reproduction.