Infertility and pregnancy outcome in female genital tuberculosis

• Published in: International journal of gynecology and obstetrics Vol. 76; no. 2; pp. 159 - 163
• Main Authors: Tripathy, Sindhu N., Tripathy, Satchida N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-02-2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Female genital diseases; Genital tuberculosis; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Infertility, Female - epidemiology; Infertility, Female - etiology; Infertility, Female - therapy; Infertilty, Cessation; Medical sciences; Non tumoral diseases; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections; Tuberculosis, Female Genital - complications; Tuberculosis, Female Genital - diagnosis; Tuberculosis, Female Genital - epidemiology; Tuberculosis, Female Genital - therapy; Infertilty, Cessation; Genital tuberculosis; Human; Prognosis; Female sterility; Mycobacterial infection; Female genital diseases; Infection; Pregnancy; Tuberculosis; Follow up study; Female genital system; Bacteriosis; Adult; Female
• ISSN: 0020-7292; 1879-3479
• DOI: 10.1016/S0020-7292(01)00525-2

Objectives: The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence rate, identify risk factors not conducive to pregnancy, and outcomes with regard to follow-up treatment.
Methods: This prospective study was carried out from 1988 to 2001, in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the S.C.B. Medical College, Cuttack, and in the private clinics of both the authors in Cuttack, India. The incidence of tuberculosis in infertility and tubal factor infertility cases were determined. The incidence of infertility in genital tuberculosis (GT) was examined and a total of 97 cases of infertility with genital tuberculosis were studied. The patients were given short course chemotherapy and prednisolone (wherever feasible). The risk factors not conducive to pregnancy were identified.
Results: The incidence of GT in infertility and tubal factor infertility were 3 and 41%, respectively. The incidence of infertility in GT was 58%. All patient were symptom free and no evidence of tuberculosis was detected after the end of the chemotherapy. The risk factors not conducive to pregnancy were secondary amenorrhea, no endometrium on curettage, and negative chromopertubation. The conception rate is low, i.e. 19.2%, the live birth rate being still low, i.e. 7.2%.
Conclusion: The outcome of infertility in GT is not very optimistic. IVF and ET offers some hope to these unfortunate women.