Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: An Index for Female Infertility in a Teaching Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Increasing numbers of women experiencing delay in childbirth have been encountered in various locations including churches, community pharmacies, hospitals and even in the neighborhood. Also a higher proportion of women experienced ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages. All this prompted the researchers to try to determine probable causes for these events and thus resulted in this study. Objective: The main purpose of this study was to explore the interrelationship that exists between pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility as well as investigate the level of suspicion of physicians in the relevant units (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) to the interrelationship. Methodology: 20 physicians in Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idiaraba were interviewed by means of a semi structured 2-part questionnaire. 100 case notes of female patients with infertility problems were randomly selected from the Medical Records Department and assessed using a pre-formed Checklist. Recovery was 100%. Results: From the results obtained it was documented that the problem of PID associated infertility is a serious one, which must be tackled appropriately. The level of suspicion of physicians in the relevant units must be raised to the likelihood of PID as a cause of infertility through timely and appropriate in-service education and training. Conclusion: In order to prevent PID and the associated infertility, physicians and public health specialists need to understand the interactions of PID-causing microorganisms with the host immune system which will enable them provide efficient primary, as well as secondary prevention services to their patients. It is, therefore, essential that relevant in-service training be given to physicians in these units periodically to enable them perform this function effectively. Keywords: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), Female Infertility, Infertility in NigeriaNQJHM Vol. 16 (4) 2006: pp. 117-121