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Poorly treated vaginal infection may cause infertility, say gynaecologists
Poorly treated vaginal infections and miscarriages could lead to infertility in women, gynaecologists have said.
They advised women battling vaginal infections and experiencing miscarriages to avoid self-medication and seek help from experts for appropriate treatment.
The gynaecologists warned that poorly managed miscarriage could lead to an infection that might cause severe damage.
Speaking in an interview, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Dr. Kamil Shoretire, said infertility could be caused by many factors in women and men.
He stated that miscarriage can profoundly affect the health and well-being of the mother, either from the complications of the process itself or from the complications arising from the treatment and management of the condition.
For those who survive a dangerous miscarriage, the gynaecologist says, there can be untold complications afterwards, including infertility.
Giving insight into the causes of secondary infertility, he explained, “Whatever will cause the fallopian tubes to be diseased or blocked will be a major factor in the women.
” This includes pelvic infections, complications of surgery on the womb, low sperm count following complicated pelvic surgery on the man, and external factors such as toxins in food, alcohol etc. that will affect egg production in the woman.
"A woman's age over 40 may occasionally result in poor egg release, which can lead to unsuccessful pregnancies."
"There may not be a responsible factor in certain cases."
Other causes of secondary infertility that Shoretire identified included fibroid surgery complications, incomplete miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, Tommy's abdominal organ rupture, and womb rupture repair.
The maternal health expert elaborated on the causes, saying, "Some women may still seek pregnancy even after having their tubes tied during family planning procedures.
Others include inadequate management of the post-surgery period or vaginal or pelvic infections. inadequate post-operative medication compliance.
"It is always good for women who had miscarriages to go to the hospital where the experts are and they will be well taken care of," the gynaecologist said, providing further explanation for why women who experience miscarriages should seek appropriate care.
In addition to providing medical care, the specialists will offer them advice, explaining potential reasons for the miscarriage and how to get ready for a future pregnancy.
The gynaecologist stated that the women will gain knowledge and awareness about the condition by visiting the hospital.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, miscarriage—the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks—occurs frequently, accounting for 15% of all pregnancies.
The authors of a 2019 paper titled "Causes and Prevalence of Factors Causing Infertility in a Public Health Facility" that was published in the PMC journal estimated that 10% of the world's population suffers from infertility. The authors pointed out that since infertility is now a global issue, figuring out its causes is the first step towards finding a solution.
Primary infertility is more common than secondary infertility among patients visiting tertiary care facilities in the public sector.
"Ageing of marriage affects the causes, with male factors and infertility that cannot be explained more frequently as age of marriage rises. Infertility is still primarily caused by female factors, with infertile causes coming in second. Age, alcohol and tobacco use, and male factor all have an impact on the parameters of semen, which makes male factor a major cause of infertility, according to the authors.
In a similar spirit, Dr. Rhe Agu, an Associate Professor and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu State, urged women with fibroid to cease seeking treatment from quacks and traditional homes in order to reduce their risk of becoming infertile.
Warning against the dangers of seeking help in unorthodox places and taking local concoctions, the gynaecologist said, “The problem with fibroid comes from people who are not experienced.
“They could injure the lining of the womb and the woman may not see her menses again. They may have complications. Those who have their tubes inadvertently removed, may not be pregnant again.
“Some will even take those local concoctions and will never see their menses again. Some may take the concoction and it will knock off their ovaries and they will never see their menses.
When patients arrive for surgery, the fibroid may become matted together from some of the local remedies, making surgery more challenging. Such cases are what I have witnessed.
But the expert in maternal health emphasised that the best course of treatment for fibroid-afflicted women who wish to become pregnant is surgery.