Surgical management of female infertility in Ilorin, Nigeria

Three hundred and seventeen female patients with infertility surgically managed and followed up for four years at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin, Nigeria are presented. 45 (14.2%) of these patients were pregnant. A total of 61 pregnancies were achieved in these patients giving an overall pregnancy rate of 19.24% which is comparable to those reported in literature. In the study period, 68.85% full-term gestations, 14.75% pre-term gestations, 11.48% spontaneous abortions and 4.92% ectopic gestations, occurred. As over 50% of female infertility in sub-Saharan Africa is due to tubo peritoneal disorders/pelvic disease and as the desire for children among African women is very strong, the authors plead for the sustenance of surgery, possibly on selected patients, in the management of female infertility even though the success rate appears small.