Should laparoscopy and dye test be a first line evaluation for infertile women in southeast Nigeria?

Laparoscopy and dye test is an important investigation in the evaluation of infertile women which has been underutilised in our practice. This review is aimed at determining whether the findings of this procedure are substantial enough to make it a first line evaluation for infertile women.

A review of the laparoscopic findings in infertile women who presented for evaluation and treatment at a private fertility centre was carried out. A total of 253 day-case laparoscopy and dye test procedures were reviewed, 115 (45.0%) were done for primary infertility, 137 (54.5%) for secondary infertility and 1 (0.4%) for primary amenorrhoea and infertility.

The mean period of infertility was 4.5 years with a range of 2-10 years and the women were aged between 19 and 52 years. Analysis of the result showed that 100 (39.5%) women had normal patent tubes while 153 (60.4%) had tubal pathologies like bilateral tubal occlusion in 97 (38.3%) and unilateral tubal occlusion in 56 (22.1%) women. Pelvic adhesion of varying degrees of severity was present in 108 (42.7%) women. Bilateral tubal occlusion was more common in nulliparous women and those aged between 30-39 years. One or both ovaries were normal (functional) in 189 (74.7%) women. Altogether, only 43 (17.0%) women were "normal" (had patent tubes, functional ovary and no pelvic adhesion). Additional pelvic pathology was present in 142 (56.1%) women. The commonest was uterine fibroid (leiomyomata) of various sizes in 100 (39.5%) of the women, followed by ovarian cyst in 56 (22.2%) and endometriosis in 11 (4.4%) women. Other pathologies observed include uterine abnormalities and unruptured ectopic pregnancy. Only 16 (37.2%) of the 43 "normal" women had no additional pelvic pathology.

The high prevalence o tuboperitoneal factor and additional pelvic pathology in these infertile women reveal the importance of laparoscopic evaluation. We recommend the use of laparoscopy and dye test as a first line investigation in our environment to detect these conditions early enough when treatment modalities like assisted reproduction will still be beneficial.