Clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of infertility in couples: a quantitative study in a semi-urban area of Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction: The objective was to determine the clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of infertility in couples at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital.

Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional hospital study with retrospective and prospective data collection over a period of six months. The study population consisted of couples who had been seen in consultation, had been diagnosed with infertility, and whose female partners were aged between 18 and 49.

Results: We registered 572 women living with a partner who came for infertility consultations and 189 couples were included. The frequency of consultations for infertility was 20.05% (572/2851). The mean age of the women was 30.33 ± 5.97 years and 37.32 ± 8.21 years for the men. The mean duration of infertility was 4.14 ± 3.94 years. Tubal causes were the most common in women (44.5%), while men mainly had sperm abnormalities (25.9%). The most common medical treatments included anti-infectious treatments in women (52.9%) and men (61.9%), ovulation inducers (11.6%) in women and vitamin therapy (11.1%) in men. Endoscopic treatment accounted for 7.9% of women who received surgical treatment (11.1%). Only 18.5% (28/151) of the couples treated were able to conceive.

Conclusion: Infertility affects one-fifth of couples. The causes are mainly secondary. More than half receive anti-infectious treatment. Nearly one in five couples were able to achieve pregnancy.