Management of infertility in low resource countries

Abstract

Infertility is a global problem, but the highest prevalence is in low resource countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where infection-related tubal damage is the commonest cause. Most infections causing tubal damage are preventable and assisted conception can treat the infertility. However, assisted conception, despite being available for nearly three decades is either unavailable or inaccessible to most residents of resource poor countries. Infertility has social, economic and personal effects, which go beyond childlessness, and women bear the major brunt of the burden. There is urgent need for a comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare initiative involving maternal and child health, safe abortions, family planning and infertility prevention and management. The provision of low cost assisted reproduction for couples in poorly resourced countries also needs to be revisited.

Joining-up thinking: Loss in childbearing from inter-disciplinary perspectives

“…June 24, 2011 6 countries (Sharma, Mittal, & Aggarwal, 2009). In sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of (primary and secondary) lifetime infertility ranges from 11.8%-19.6%, in Asia from 5% to 15.1% (Boivin, Bunting, Collins, & Nygren, 2007).…”

Tubal Damage, Infertility and Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy: Chlamydia trachomatis and Other Microbial Aetiologies

“…One of the leading global causes of tubal factor infertility is thought to be symptomatic (and asymptomatic in up to 70% cases) infection of the female reproductive tract with the sexually transmitted pathogen, Chlamydia trachomatis. Infection-related damage to the Fallopian tubes caused by Chlamydia accounts for more than 70% of cases of infertility in women from developing nations such as sub-Saharan Africa (Sharma et al, 2009). Bacterial vaginosis, a condition associated with increased transmission of sexually transmitted infections including those caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium is present in two thirds of women with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).…”

Common Hysterosalpingography Protocols and Findings among Infertile Women in a Tertiary Healthcare Institution in Northeast, Nigeria

“…Infertility has been a global problem for many decades and is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa [1]. It affects about 10-20% [2,3] and 10 -15% [2,4] of couples in Africa and developed countries respectively.…”