title: Pre-pregnancy counseling in Lagos: a report on the first 1,000 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the activity of a pre-pregnancy counseling clinic in terms of investigations, counseling, treatment, and subsequent pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prenatal diagnosis and therapy were given in a tertiary university hospital in Lagos offering referral services for fetal medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the first 1,000 couples who referred to the centre from various centres attended from 1992 to 2007. Main outcome measures were assessed through types of referrals, value of diagnostic tests, and subsequent pregnancy outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main types of referral were previous miscarriage (48.2%), previous fetal abnormality (10.8%), chronic maternal illness (25.1%), and others (15.9%). Routine investigation showed high serological toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex I, herpes simplex II (TORCH) positive antibodies carrier rate. Subsequent pregnancy outcome did improve in the chronic maternal diseases and previous miscarriage group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study illustrates the importance of making an accurate assessment of previous problem and current health as a means of determining both maternal and fetal risks in a subsequent pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Prenatal Diagnosis & Therapy Centre, College of Medicine, University Lagos, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria. prenataldiagnosiscentre@yahoo.com
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Ajayi
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Popoola
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dina
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okorie
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018570:Risk Assessment