Knowledge Of Reproductive Cycle And Sexuality Among Infertile Women In Nigeria

摘要

BACKGROUND: The situation in Africa is a paradox, records the highest percentage of fertility and infertility globally. Reproductive behavior in Africa is fertility oriented, resulting in huge psychosocial burden beyond comprehension to the infertile women / couple. Sexual practice and knowledge of reproductive cycle are important factors to the attainment of conception. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate knowledge of reproductive cycle amongst women attending infertility clinic and their sexuality practice. RESULTS: Twenty eight (32.2%) out of the 87 subjects knew their menstrual cycle length and 39.1% (34 / 87) had an idea of their ovulatory period. Sixty nine (79.3%) subjects did not have an idea of symptoms of ovulation. Of the 18 (20.7%) subjects that knew the signs of ovulation, 13 (72.2%) of them do experience signs of ovulation. Sexuality practice revealed coital frequency that ranged from 0 to 5 times weekly. Seventy two (82.5%) of the 87 subjects did not have a say as to the timing of coital act. Of the 15 (17.2%) subjects that had a say in the timing of sexual act, 13 (86.7%) of them made conscious effort to have coitus during the ovulatory period. Overall, only 21 (24.1%) of the 87 subjects believed that pregnancy could occur during menstrual flow. The effect of subjects’ sub fertile status on their interest in intercourse showed that infertility enhance coital interest in 45 (51.7%) subjects, diminish coital interest in 29 (33.3%) subjects and infertility made no difference in 13 (15%) subjects.CONCLUSION: Gender equality, women empowerment, provision of universal basic education and eradication of poverty are programs to be targeted towards improving reproductive rights of women and their knowledge base. Health education and counseling should be an integral part of infertility management. Introduction In Africa, Infertility is the commonest gynecological condition, and it records the highest percentage of infertility worldwide (WHO 1991). Sexuality and knowledge of reproductive cycle are important in the attainment of conception, which even becomes more important in couples with infertility problem. It was recommended that couple should be seen together at the first gynecological visit for infertility evaluation (WHO 1997). However, in Nigeria, this hardly happens, the women that mostly bear the burden, presents to the hospital first. In view of this background, we therefore undertook this study to ascertain level of knowledge of reproductive cycle and sexual practice among infertile women. Methodology The study was a cross sectional study. Based on the questions on a pre tested questionnaire, consenting infertile women were interviewed.. The study was conducted at the infertility clinic of a tertiary hospital; Ahmadu Bello university Teaching Hospital, Zaria in year 2006. Result Eighty seven infertile women were interviewed. The subjects mean age was 31.2 years with age range of 19 to 43 years. Mean parity was 1.6 with range of 0 to 4. The duration of infertility ranged from 13 to 156 months with a mean of 18.3 months. Of the 87 subjects, 39 (44.8%) were in monogamous union and 48 (55.2%) in polygamous union. Thirty one (35.6%) subjects presented with primary infertility and 56 (64.4%) with secondary infertility.Only 28 (32.2%) out of the 87 subjects knew their menstrual cycle length and 39.1% (34 / 87) had idea of their ovulatory period. Sixty nine (79.3%) subjects did not have an idea of the likely symptoms of ovulation. Of the 18 (20.7%) subjects that knews the signs of ovulation, 13 (72.2%) of them do experience signs of ovulation, and only 3 (16.7%) engaged in timed intercourse.Sexuality practice revealed coital frequency that ranged from 0 to 5 times weekly. Seventy two (82.5%) of the 87 subjects did not have a say as to the timing of coital act. Of the 15 (17.2%) subjects that had a say to the timing of sexual act, 13 (86.7%) of them do make conscious effort to have coitus during the ovulatory period. Twenty six (29.