title: Cervical cytology profile of infertility patients in Abakaliki, South-eastern Nigeria.
abstract: Cervical cancer is of public health importance in developing countries. High risk sexual behaviour is a risk factor. This cross-sectional study aimed at establishing the cervical cytology profile of infertile women in Abakaliki, Nigeria. It involved 200 infertility patients and 200 general gynaecological patients. They were interviewed with a structured questionnaire and screened for pre-malignant cervical changes. A total of 28 infertility patients (14.9%) and 34 general gynaecological patients (17.7%) had epithelial cell abnormalities. A total of 21 infertility patients had cytology positive for pre-malignant changes, comprising: seven with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) (3.7%); eight with a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) (4.3%); and six with a high-grade intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) (3.2%). There were 25 general gynaecological patients who had cytology positive for pre-malignant changes, comprising: eight ASCUS (4.2%); seven LSIL (3.5%); and ten HSIL (5.2%). The distribution did not attain statistical significance. Infertility did not increase the risk of development of cervical pre-malignant changes.
authors.affiliation: Departments of 1Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, St George's University, Grenada.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Mbazor
authors.forename: O U J
authors.initials: OU
authors.lastname: Umeora
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Egwuatu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000473:pathology*; D009549:Nigeria; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D055815:Young Adult