Genital tuberculosis in infertile women in northern Nigeria

A bacteriological study of 114 infertile patients in Northern Nigeria revealed a prevalence rate for genital tuberculosis of 16.7%. The low incidence of a past history of pulmonary tuberculosis may relate to a gastro-intestinal sources of the infective organisms, illiteracy and delay in seeking medical advice. The presenting features are indistinguishable from those of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease. Since 94.7% of the patients are young (20 to 35 years of age) and the mean duration of infertility long (8.1 years), despite marriage in childhood, infertile women in this environment should be investigated without delay at an earlier age so as to improve diagnosis and subsequent prognosis.