Cervical cytology profile of infertility patients in Abakaliki, South-eastern Nigeria.

Cervical cancer is of public health importance in developing countries. High risk sexual behaviour is a risk factor. This cross-sectional study aimed at establishing the cervical cytology profile of infertile women in Abakaliki, Nigeria. It involved 200 infertility patients and 200 general gynaecological patients. They were interviewed with a structured questionnaire and screened for pre-malignant cervical changes. A total of 28 infertility patients (14.9%) and 34 general gynaecological patients (17.7%) had epithelial cell abnormalities. A total of 21 infertility patients had cytology positive for pre-malignant changes, comprising: seven with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) (3.7%); eight with a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) (4.3%); and six with a high-grade intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) (3.2%). There were 25 general gynaecological patients who had cytology positive for pre-malignant changes, comprising: eight ASCUS (4.2%); seven LSIL (3.5%); and ten HSIL (5.2%). The distribution did not attain statistical significance. Infertility did not increase the risk of development of cervical pre-malignant changes.