Tubal Abnormalities in Thai Infertile Females
Supat Sinawat, MD, MSc*,
Jeerichuda Pattamadilok, MD*, Kanok Seejorn, MD*
* Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen
Objective: To determine the prevalence of tubal abnormalities among infertile patients attending the clinic
at Srinagarind Hospital.
Design: A descriptive study
Setting: Infertility clinic, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
Subject: A total of 740 female patients presented at the infertility clinic, Srinagarind Hospital between 1
January 1998 and 31 December 2002.
Material and Method: A retrospective review of demographic data, baseline infertility information and the
results of tubal assesments (including both hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy) were conducted.
Main outcome measure: Prevalence of tubal abnormalities in infertile females being treated in the infertility
clinic during the study period.
Results: Among the 740 patients being recruited to the present study, 533 cases (72.03%) were diagnosed
with primary infertility while the rest (207 or 27.97%) came to the clinic due to secondary infertility. The
mean infertile period of all study subjects was 4.68 years. Regarding the methods used for tubal assessments,
hysterosalpingography (HSG), laparoscopy and combination of the two methods were conducted in 556
cases (75.14%), 30 cases (4.05%) and 154 cases (20.81%), respectively. The prevalence of tubal abnormalities
demonstrated in the present study was 27.30% (202 from 740 cases). Among the 202 patients with tubal
abnormalities, the pathologies detected were cornual occlusion (46.04%), combined tubal abnormalities
(30.20%), distal tubal occlusion (8.42%), hydrosalpinx (3.47%), peritubal adhesion (3.96%), and other
abnormalities (7.91%). Other pelvic pathologies detected from laparoscopy were endometriosis (61.49%),
pelvic adhesion (24.22%), leiomyoma (12.42%), and ovarian cyst (1.87%).
Conclusion: Tubal abnormalities were detected in over one-fourth of all infertile females being treated at
Srinagarind Hospital. Further study investigating the etiologies of these abnormalities is needed since it
could be the measure to bring down the occurrence of such conditions.
Keywords: Infertility, Uterine tube
J Med Assoc Thai 2005; 88(6): 723-7
Full text. e-Journal: http://www.medassocthai.org/journal
Infertility is a common reproductive health
problem. It is estimated that 1 in every 7-9 couples
will experience difficulties in getting pregnant(1). At
Srinagarind Hospital, there are approximately 200
couples seeking infertility treatment annually. One
of the main causes of infertility is tubal obstruction.
The prevalence of this type of infertility varied
greatly in different countries in which it was studied.
In developed countries, tubal obstruction was found
in 36% of infertile women; however, in Asia this percentage reached 39%, in Latin America 44%, and
in Africa 85%(2). Several factors have been claimed to
be associated with the occurrence of tubal infertility.
These include sexually transmitted diseases, multiple
sexual partners, early age at first sexual intercourse,
race, socioeconomic and marital status, previous use
of contraceptive methods, septic abortion, and abdominal
or pelvic surgery(3,4). These factors obviously
varied from one culture to anothers and hence it is
interesting to determine the prevalence of tubal
abnormalities among Thai infertile females since it
may differ from those previously reported in the
literature.
Material and Method
The authors conducted a retrospective
review of all infertile females who attended the clinic
at Srinagarind Hospital, the only fully equipped
infertility center in Northeastern Thailand, from 1
January 1998 to 31 December 2002. The demographic
data, baseline infertility information, laboratory
results and the results of tubal assessments using
both laparoscopy and hysterosalpingography
(HSG) were recorded and analysed. Only patients with
full details of infertility data as well as tubal assessment
results were recruited to the present study. This study
was approved by the ethical committee of Faculty of
Medicine, Khon Kaen university.
Results
During the study period, 1090 infertile
females attended the clinic at Srinagarind Hospital.
A total of 740 cases were recruited into the present
study since the rest of the patients (350 cases or
32.11%) did not meet the inclusion criteria (infertility
data was insufficient or no tubal assessment results).
Among the 740 subjects being studied, primary and
secondary infertility were diagnosed in 533 cases
(72.03%) and 207 cases (27.97%), respectively.
The present study demonstrated that the
mean age of the study subjects was 29.76 + 4.72 years,
the mean marital period was 5.43 + 3.82 years and
the mean duration of infertility was 4.68 + 2.54 years.
The majority of the patients (731 cases or 98.78%)
lived in the Northeast region of Thailand. Most of the
patients were farmers (34.06%) and governmental
officers (27.97%). The majority of the patients (67.16%)
had education below the university level (Table 1).
Among the study subjects, there were only
89 cases (12.03%) using contraception prior to being
treated at our infertility clinic. The most common
contraceptive method used was oral contraceptive
(72.9%). The mean duration of contraceptive use
among these 89 cases was 2.53 + 1.37 years.
The present study revealed that among all
study subjects, 78 cases presented with past gynecologic
problems. These included endometriosis
(29.48%), ectopic pregnancies (19.23%), abnormal
uterine bleeding (16.67%), pelvic inflammatory
diseases (15.38%), STD (2.56%) and others (such as
myoma uteri, ovarian cyst, etc.; 16.67%). There were
38 patients (5.14%) who had a history of pelvic or
lower abdominal surgeries prior to recruitment into
the present study. The majorities of these surgeries
were salpingectomy (31.58%), ovarian cystectomy (23.68%), appendectomy (13.15%), myomectomy
(10.53%) and cesarean section (21.06%). Among the
207 patients diagnosed with secondary infertility,
36 cases (17.39%) had a history of illegal induced
abortion.
There were three methods being used to
assess tubal status in the present study. These
include hysterosalpingography (performed in 556
cases or 75.14%), laparoscopy (performed in 30 cases
or 4.05%), and combination of the two methods
(performed in 154 cases or 20.81%). The prevalence of
tubal abnormalities demonstrated in the present
study was 27.30% (202 from 740 cases). Among these
202 cases, the most common tubal abnormality
detected was cornual occlusion (46.04%). Other tubal
abnormalities demonstrated in the present study
were distal tubal occlusion, hydrosalpinx, peritubal
adhesion, combined tubal abnormalities and others
as shown in Table 2.
Table 1. Demographic data of the patients
Information Number of patients (%)
n = 740
Living location
Khon Kaen province 256 (34.59%)
Other provinces in NE region 475 (64.19%)
Outside NE region 9 (1.22%)
Education
Primary school 326 (44.05%)
Secondary school 111 (15.00%)
Junior college 60 (8.11%)
University (Bachelor degree) 230 (31.08%)
Master degree/PhD 13 (1.76%)
Occupation
Farmers 252 (34.06%)
Government officers 207 (27.97%)
Labourers 81 (10.95%)
Traders 78 (10.54%)
Housewives 37 (5.00%)
Others 85 (11.48%)
Table 2. Types of tubal abnormalities detected
Types of tubal abnormalities Number of patients (%)
n = 202
Cornual occlusion 93 (46.04%)
Distal tubal occlusion 17 (8.42%)
Hydrosalpinx 16 (7.91%)
Peritubal adhesion 7 (3.47%)
Others 8 (3.96%)
Combined tubal abnormalities 61 (30.20%)
Total 202 (100.00%)
Table 3. Extra-tubal pelvic pathologies detected by laparoscopy
Types of pathologies detected Number of patients (%)
n = 161
Endometriosis 99 (61.49%)
Pelvic adhesion 39 (24.22%)
Myoma uteri 20 (12.42%)
Ovarian cyst 3 (1.87%)
Total 161 (100.00%)
Among the 184 patients who had laparoscopy
performed, extra-tubal pelvic pathologies were
detected in 161 cases (87.50%). The most common
abnormality detected laparoscopically was endometriosis
(61.49%). Other extra-tubal abnormalities
observed were pelvic adhesion, myoma uteri, and
ovarian cyst as shown in Table 3.
Discussion
Couples may present to their physicians
complaining of infertility after failing to conceive for
months or years. Tubal damage is a common cause
of infertility, and laparospcopy or hysterosalpingography
are accepted methods for diagnosing this
condition(5). The prevalence of tubal infertility varies
greatly from one area to another(6,7). The present
study demonstrated that the prevalence of tubal
abnormalities among infertile females who attended
the clinic at Srinagarind Hospital was 27.30%. This
figure was comparable to 29.7% prevalence previously
reported from Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok,
Thailand(6). This prevalence, however, was relatively
lower than that reported by Cates et al which revealed
that, during the 1980s, the prevalence of tubal obstruction
among infertile patients was 36% in developed
countries, 39% in Asia, 44% in Latin America, and 85%
in Africa(2). The discrepancy between the prevalence
reported by Cates and that of the present study could
partly be explained by the fact that these two studies
were conducted in different time frames. The studies
by Cates et al analysed the patients seeking infertility
treatment during the 1980s, about one decade earlier
than the time period being investigated in the
present study. This time-frame difference, therefore,
could result in alterations in several factors attributed
to the occurrence of tubal abnormalities and hence
the difference in its prevalence. Genital Chlamydial
trachomatis infection has a worldwide distribution(8)
and is now recognised as the single most common
cause of tubal peritoneal damage(9,10). As personal
recognition regarding genital hygiene has been
improved over time, it thus seems justified to foresee
the decreasing trend of tubal infertility as time
Tubal Abnormalities in Thai Infertile FemalesSupat Sinawat, MD, MSc*,Jeerichuda Pattamadilok, MD*, Kanok Seejorn, MD** Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon KaenObjective: To determine the prevalence of tubal abnormalities among infertile patients attending the clinicat Srinagarind Hospital.Design: A descriptive studySetting: Infertility clinic, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.Subject: A total of 740 female patients presented at the infertility clinic, Srinagarind Hospital between 1January 1998 and 31 December 2002.Material and Method: A retrospective review of demographic data, baseline infertility information and theresults of tubal assesments (including both hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy) were conducted.Main outcome measure: Prevalence of tubal abnormalities in infertile females being treated in the infertilityclinic during the study period.Results: Among the 740 patients being recruited to the present study, 533 cases (72.03%) were diagnosedwith primary infertility while the rest (207 or 27.97%) came to the clinic due to secondary infertility. Themean infertile period of all study subjects was 4.68 years. Regarding the methods used for tubal assessments,hysterosalpingography (HSG), laparoscopy and combination of the two methods were conducted in 556cases (75.14%), 30 cases (4.05%) and 154 cases (20.81%), respectively. The prevalence of tubal abnormalitiesdemonstrated in the present study was 27.30% (202 from 740 cases). Among the 202 patients with tubalabnormalities, the pathologies detected were cornual occlusion (46.04%), combined tubal abnormalities(30.20%), distal tubal occlusion (8.42%), hydrosalpinx (3.47%), peritubal adhesion (3.96%), and otherabnormalities (7.91%). Other pelvic pathologies detected from laparoscopy were endometriosis (61.49%),pelvic adhesion (24.22%), leiomyoma (12.42%), and ovarian cyst (1.87%).Conclusion: Tubal abnormalities were detected in over one-fourth of all infertile females being treated atSrinagarind Hospital. Further study investigating the etiologies of these abnormalities is needed since itcould be the measure to bring down the occurrence of such conditions.Keywords: Infertility, Uterine tubeJ Med Assoc Thai 2005; 88(6): 723-7Full text. e-Journal: http://www.medassocthai.org/journalInfertility is a common reproductive healthproblem. It is estimated that 1 in every 7-9 coupleswill experience difficulties in getting pregnant(1). AtSrinagarind Hospital, there are approximately 200couples seeking infertility treatment annually. Oneof the main causes of infertility is tubal obstruction.The prevalence of this type of infertility variedgreatly in different countries in which it was studied.In developed countries, tubal obstruction was foundin 36% of infertile women; however, in Asia this percentage reached 39%, in Latin America 44%, andin Africa 85%(2). Several factors have been claimed tobe associated with the occurrence of tubal infertility.These include sexually transmitted diseases, multiplesexual partners, early age at first sexual intercourse,race, socioeconomic and marital status, previous useof contraceptive methods, septic abortion, and abdominalor pelvic surgery(3,4). These factors obviouslyvaried from one culture to anothers and hence it isinteresting to determine the prevalence of tubalabnormalities among Thai infertile females since itmay differ from those previously reported in theliterature.Material and MethodThe authors conducted a retrospectivereview of all infertile females who attended the clinicat Srinagarind Hospital, the only fully equippedinfertility center in Northeastern Thailand, from 1January 1998 to 31 December 2002. The demographicdata, baseline infertility information, laboratoryresults and the results of tubal assessments usingboth laparoscopy and hysterosalpingography(HSG) were recorded and analysed. Only patients withfull details of infertility data as well as tubal assessmentresults were recruited to the present study. This studywas approved by the ethical committee of Faculty ofMedicine, Khon Kaen university.ResultsDuring the study period, 1090 infertilefemales attended the clinic at Srinagarind Hospital.A total of 740 cases were recruited into the presentstudy since the rest of the patients (350 cases or32.11%) did not meet the inclusion criteria (infertilitydata was insufficient or no tubal assessment results).Among the 740 subjects being studied, primary andsecondary infertility were diagnosed in 533 cases(72.03%) and 207 cases (27.97%), respectively.The present study demonstrated that themean age of the study subjects was 29.76 + 4.72 years,the mean marital period was 5.43 + 3.82 years andthe mean duration of infertility was 4.68 + 2.54 years.The majority of the patients (731 cases or 98.78%)lived in the Northeast region of Thailand. Most of thepatients were farmers (34.06%) and governmentalofficers (27.97%). The majority of the patients (67.16%)had education below the university level (Table 1).Among the study subjects, there were only89 cases (12.03%) using contraception prior to beingtreated at our infertility clinic. The most commoncontraceptive method used was oral contraceptive(72.9%). The mean duration of contraceptive useamong these 89 cases was 2.53 + 1.37 years.The present study revealed that among allstudy subjects, 78 cases presented with past gynecologicproblems. These included endometriosis(29.48%), ectopic pregnancies (19.23%), abnormaluterine bleeding (16.67%), pelvic inflammatorydiseases (15.38%), STD (2.56%) and others (such asmyoma uteri, ovarian cyst, etc.; 16.67%). There were38 patients (5.14%) who had a history of pelvic orlower abdominal surgeries prior to recruitment intothe present study. The majorities of these surgerieswere salpingectomy (31.58%), ovarian cystectomy (23.68%), appendectomy (13.15%), myomectomy(10.53%) and cesarean section (21.06%). Among the207 patients diagnosed with secondary infertility,36 cases (17.39%) had a history of illegal inducedabortion.There were three methods being used toassess tubal status in the present study. Theseinclude hysterosalpingography (performed in 556cases or 75.14%), laparoscopy (performed in 30 casesor 4.05%), and combination of the two methods(performed in 154 cases or 20.81%). The prevalence oftubal abnormalities demonstrated in the presentstudy was 27.30% (202 from 740 cases). Among these202 cases, the most common tubal abnormalitydetected was cornual occlusion (46.04%). Other tubalabnormalities demonstrated in the present studywere distal tubal occlusion, hydrosalpinx, peritubaladhesion, combined tubal abnormalities and othersas shown in Table 2.Table 1. Demographic data of the patientsInformation Number of patients (%)n = 740Living locationKhon Kaen province 256 (34.59%)Other provinces in NE region 475 (64.19%)Outside NE region 9 (1.22%)EducationPrimary school 326 (44.05%)Secondary school 111 (15.00%)Junior college 60 (8.11%)University (Bachelor degree) 230 (31.08%)Master degree/PhD 13 (1.76%)OccupationFarmers 252 (34.06%)Government officers 207 (27.97%)Labourers 81 (10.95%)Traders 78 (10.54%)Housewives 37 (5.00%)
Others 85 (11.48%)
Table 2. Types of tubal abnormalities detected
Types of tubal abnormalities Number of patients (%)
n = 202
Cornual occlusion 93 (46.04%)
Distal tubal occlusion 17 (8.42%)
Hydrosalpinx 16 (7.91%)
Peritubal adhesion 7 (3.47%)
Others 8 (3.96%)
Combined tubal abnormalities 61 (30.20%)
Total 202 (100.00%)
Table 3. Extra-tubal pelvic pathologies detected by laparoscopy
Types of pathologies detected Number of patients (%)
n = 161
Endometriosis 99 (61.49%)
Pelvic adhesion 39 (24.22%)
Myoma uteri 20 (12.42%)
Ovarian cyst 3 (1.87%)
Total 161 (100.00%)
Among the 184 patients who had laparoscopy
performed, extra-tubal pelvic pathologies were
detected in 161 cases (87.50%). The most common
abnormality detected laparoscopically was endometriosis
(61.49%). Other extra-tubal abnormalities
observed were pelvic adhesion, myoma uteri, and
ovarian cyst as shown in Table 3.
Discussion
Couples may present to their physicians
complaining of infertility after failing to conceive for
months or years. Tubal damage is a common cause
of infertility, and laparospcopy or hysterosalpingography
are accepted methods for diagnosing this
condition(5). The prevalence of tubal infertility varies
greatly from one area to another(6,7). The present
study demonstrated that the prevalence of tubal
abnormalities among infertile females who attended
the clinic at Srinagarind Hospital was 27.30%. This
figure was comparable to 29.7% prevalence previously
reported from Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok,
Thailand(6). This prevalence, however, was relatively
lower than that reported by Cates et al which revealed
that, during the 1980s, the prevalence of tubal obstruction
among infertile patients was 36% in developed
countries, 39% in Asia, 44% in Latin America, and 85%
in Africa(2). The discrepancy between the prevalence
reported by Cates and that of the present study could
partly be explained by the fact that these two studies
were conducted in different time frames. The studies
by Cates et al analysed the patients seeking infertility
treatment during the 1980s, about one decade earlier
than the time period being investigated in the
present study. This time-frame difference, therefore,
could result in alterations in several factors attributed
to the occurrence of tubal abnormalities and hence
the difference in its prevalence. Genital Chlamydial
trachomatis infection has a worldwide distribution(8)
and is now recognised as the single most common
cause of tubal peritoneal damage(9,10). As personal
recognition regarding genital hygiene has been
improved over time, it thus seems justified to foresee
the decreasing trend of tubal infertility as time
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