Epidemiological and aetiological factors of male infertility in northern Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate some epidemiologic and aetiologic factors for male infertility in our patients.

Method: All male patients who presented with infertility in urology clinic of the department of surgery between 1991and2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Epidemiologic and aetiological factors of male infertility were studied.

Result: There were 537 patients; age ranged 18 to 56 years with a mean of 34 +/- 9.0 SD years. Primary infertility was seen in 515 (96%) patients. About 70% were infertile for 2 to 6 years. Primary testicular insufficiency was seen in 260 patients (48.7%) mainly resulting from genitourinary tract infection. Azoospermia resulting from testicular pathology was seen in 18 (3.4%) and obstruction to the vas or epididymis was seen 75 (14.0%) patients. Two hundred and fourteen (45%) patients had oligospermia resulting from testicular insufficiency while 61 (11.4%) had oligospermia due obstruction.

Conclusion: Infertility resulted mainly from preventable causes. This can be prevented by prompt and adequate treatment of genitourinary infection, testicular maldescent and testicular torsion.