Causes of infertility in females: evaluated by diagnostic laparoscopy at a tertiary care centre

To determine the frequency of various causes of infertility through diagnostic laparoscopy. Cross sectional comparative study. The study was conducted in gynaecology/obstetrics department unit I of Military Hospital Rawalpindi from May 2011 - May 2012. A total of 50 patients were recruited in the study through outpatient clinic, 32 out of 50 had primary infertility and 18 had secondary infertility. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed under general anesthesia and findings were recorded. The mean age of patients was 26.4 years. Out of 50 patients 20 [40%] had polycystic ovaries, 15 [30%] had tubal blockage, 7 [14%] had endometriosis and 2 [4%] had fibroids while 6[12%] were found to have normal pelvis and no pathology was detected. Polycystic ovaries was found to be the major cause of infertility in this study group, followed by tubal factor infertility either secondary to pelvic inflammatory disease or otherwise, both these causes are treatable to a variable extent and fertility can be resumed if managed properly