Induced abortion: A risk factor for infertility in nigerian women

The cases were 104 women attending the infertility clinic of the Obafemi Awolowo University hospital between 30 October 1992 and 30 September 1993. The controls were 571 women attending the antenatal clinic of the hospital during the same time. Both cases and controls were investigated for socio-demographic characteristics and history of abortion. Abortion history was elicited using the 'value-free' technique and stratified into: (1) definitely induced; (2) definitely spontaneous; and (3) unclassified. The results show that induced abortion was associated with infertility (odds ratio 74; confidence interval 4.0 to 13.8) whereas unclassified abortion had only a modest association with infertility (odds ratio 1.8; confidence interval 1.0 to 3.3). Spontaneous abortion also only had a weak association with subsequent infertility (odds ratio 1.9; confidence interval 1.0 to 3.7). These results confirm the widely held clinical impression that induced abortion predisposes to infertility in regions where abortion is illegal. As such an association has not been found in areas where abortion is legal, we believe that liberalisation of abortion law could reduce the rate of infertility in this population. © 1994 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.