Female genital tuberculosis: About 11 cases treated in Antananarivo (Madagascar)

A 5 year prospective study on genital tuberculosis, a rather uncommon localization, has been undertaken in 11 women treated at the DAT-HIS of Antananarivo, Madagascar. Clinical diagnosis is problematic, if not unfeasible, due to the polymorphism of genital tuberculosis in women. Only histological and bacteriological examinations are, so far, confirmatory. In the future, recourse to polymerase chain reaction will facilitate diagnosis and will allow a more accurate assessment of the incidence of this aspect of tuberculosis infection. Genital tuberculosis compromises women's fertility. Even though the tuberculosis is cured, none of the 11 women of our research had carried their pregnancy to delivery, because artificial fertilization is not feasible here in Madagascar. Screening of woman genital tuberculosis should be mandatory as regards gynaecological problems such as menstrual cycle disorders, sterility, abdominal pain, cyst of ovary, ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous miscarriage in paraclinical investigations, especially in developing countries.