Endometrial sampling at a teaching hospital in northern Nigeria

The objective of the current study is to assess the value of endometrial sampling as a diagnostic tool at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). A histopathological study of the endometrium in 255 patients seen at the Gynaecological clinic of UMTH from January 1988 to October 1998 formed the study group. The patients' age, parity, contraceptive and menstrual history were reviewed from case records. The mean age of the study group was 28 years. A normal secretory endometrium was observed in 47.1% of the 255 patients analysed while 8.6% showed a proliferative pattern. 43.1% (110/255) showed some endometrial abnormalities. The findings revealed that endometrial sampling is an indispensible diagnostic tool especially in the investigation of infertile couple. It is concluded that sensitive immunohistochemical technique is needed to improve the sensitivity of endometrial sampling as a diagnostic tool.