Treatment Seeking Practices and Etiology of Infertile Couples in Bangladesh

Infertility is a major reproductive health problem, at least in part, a cultural problem also. In developing countries like Bangladesh, infertility is a devastating experience for a couple, particularly in women. For this reason many women suffer from many social and medical consequences. Most of the infertile patients of Bangladesh have no access to adequate comprehensive treatment. Also due to lack of proper knowledge, some couples use varied traditional methods and religious practices. This study was done to assess the treatment seeking behavior of infertile couple and also to find out the gross causes of infertility of patients attending at Motherhood Fertility center, Dhaka, Bangladesh. This prospective study was done over 3 years from June 2016 to June 2019. Two thousand two hundred and fifty (2250) patients attending a secondary infertility center at Dhaka were included in this study. Out of 2250 infertile patients 56.00% were rural and 44.00% urban. Of 737 (58.49%) rural and 658 (66.46%) urban infertile patients had consulted with General practitioner and Gynae specialist before coming to secondary and tertiary care center. Out of 1260 rural, 463(36.75%) and 990 urban, 291 (29.39%) had visited the infertility center as the first choice for treatment. Still about 8.8% infertile couple visited quacks and traditional healers for solving infertility. The overall primary and secondary infertility were 67.69% and 32.31% respectively. In 12.57% couples, male factor was the obvious cause (azoospermia and abnormal semen parameters). In 27.43%, female factors and in 28.0% couples both male and female had obvious reasons responsible for infertility. Thirty two percent (32.00%) cases were unexplained infertility. Out of female factors 43.00% anovulation, 29.00% tubal factors, 11.00% endometriosis, 5.00% Uterine factors, 2.00% POF (premature ovarian failure) and 10.00% others (Thyroid disorder, DM, Hyper-prolactinemia, Luteal phase defect). Infertility is an important health problem in Bangladesh. Etiology of infertility varies from regional, social and cultural conditions so that it requires proper diagnosis and then treats this problem accordingly. It is necessary to build up proper referral system and also proper training should be needed to service provider and traditional healers. Reproductive technology should be widely available in our society where motherhood is one of the most desired stages of a women's life.