Comparison of laparoscopic findings with tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of genital tuberculosis among subfertile women

Abstract

Background: Female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) is an important cause of infertility. The Fallopian tubes are involved in almost 90% of the cases. Materials and Methods: All 50 participants were women with complaints of infertility to whom FGTB was suspected as a cause of infertility or women with infertility of unknown etiology. After selecting the patient according to inclusion criteria, women were posted for diagnostic laparoscopy and endometrial aspirate/biopsy was sent for TB polymerase chain reaction (TB PCR). Results: In our study, infertile women who had clinical and hysterosalpingography findings suggestive of genital TB underwent endometrial biopsy for TB PCR and hysterolaparoscopy for further evaluation. Among them, 7 (14%) endometrial TB PCR-positive cases were found in the study. Clinical and hysterolaparoscopy findings in these cases were carefully reviewed, although laparoscopic findings were suggestive of TB in 9 (18%) women. Conclusion: Direct visualization of the female genital tract by laparoscopy is most confirmatory and should be considered for starting the antitubercular treatment on the basis of laparoscopic findings.