title: Viral infections among couples for assisted reproduction in a fertility clinic in Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The risk of laboratory cross-contamination may limit the availability of assisted conception for couples infected with chronic viruses. However, assisted conception is the standard of care for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to minimize risk of transmission or reinfection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the burden of viral infection among couples that present for assisted reproductive technology (ART) with a view to evaluating implications for their care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive study carried out among 138 couples at a private fertility clinic in Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Screening for HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus were carried out among these clients. The males' seminal parameters were analyzed according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Statistical Package for Social Sciences was employed. Analysis was by Chi-square test; statistical significance was set at 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Viral infections were found in 10/138 women (7.2%) and 15/138 (10.9%) men. The most prevalent infection was HBV. Twenty-one couples were sero-discordant. Two couples had concordant HIV and HBV infections, respectively. There was no significant association between sperm quality and chronic hepatitis infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nearly a fifth of the couples had at least one partner infected with a chronic virus - a proportion significant enough to demand attention. Apart from separate laboratory and storage facilities, basic principles to minimize transmission are recommended: HBV vaccination in sero-discordant partners of HBV carriers (and immunoprophylaxis for the baby) and antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive partners to reduce the viral load before fertility treatment is commenced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ajayi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oladokun
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Bello
authors.forename: I O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Morhason-Bello
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Ogundepo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D012747:Sexual Partners; D019562:Viral Load; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*