[Sterility as a sequela of tubal schistosomiasis]

A 21-year old african women presented with primary sterility in the outpatient department of our university hospital. Screening examinations, including ultrasound, demonstrated a tumour of 5.8 x 4.1 cm diameter on the left ovary. While performing laparotomy to extirpate this tumour, bilateral occlusion of the tubes was discovered by chromopertubation.This diagnosis led us to perform bilateral salpingostomy and reimplantation of the Fallopian tubes. In addition to the ovarian tumour (dermoid), fragments of the Fallopian tubes were sent for histological examination, which revealed eggs of schistosomes probably of the species Schistosoma haematobium. Since tourism to and immigration from endemic areas is increasing, schistosomiasis should be considered when it is not possible to elucidate the cause of sterility by classical means.