STUDY ON THE MISUSE OF OVULATION INDUCTION MEDICINES IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY INFERTILITY WITHOUT STANDARDIZED INFERTILITY WORKUPS IN PRIMARY CARE SETTING
Keywords:
Pakistan, mediator state, US-Iran ceasefire, global leaders, critical discourse analysis.Abstract
Background: Ovulation induction therapy has significantly improved fertility outcomes for women struggling with ovulatory disorders. These agents play a pivotal role in assisted reproduction by stimulating follicular development and improving the chances of conception. However, concerns have arisen over their unregulated use in primary care settings without comprehensive infertility evaluations, leading to significant public health risks and suboptimal patient care.
Objective: To evaluate the frequency of ovulation induction medicine misuse in primary infertility cases.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Infertility OPD of MSK Hospital from January 2025 to June 2025.
Methods: Study included 116 women diagnosed with primary infertility. Medical records and prior prescriptions of patients were studied to assess previous treatment protocols comprising type, dose, duration, number of cycles of ovulation induction medicines, as well as documentation of any previous infertility workup. Data was gathered through proforma, which was entered and analyzed utilizing SPSS software version 25.0.
Results: Among 116 patients, mean age was 30.18+6.720 years, mean duration of infertility was 5.66+4.574 years, 100.0% patients used ovulation induction medication, 55.9% patients were prescribed medication by general practitioners, followed by, Obs/Gyn specialist (39.6%) and self-medication (3.5%). Standardized infertility workup was performed among 56.9% patients before initiating treatment, 50.0% patients had confirmed ovulation with medication use and 10.3% patients conceived. There were 3.4% (4) ectopic pregnancies and 6.9% (8) ongoing pregnancies. The reported sides effects / complication syndromes were ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (34.5%) and multiple pregnancies (3.4%).
Conclusion: Infertility is a leading problem and most of the healthcare providers in primary care settings prescribe ovulation induction medications without conducting standardized workups. Study concluded that 96.5% patients used ovulation induction medicines prescribed by general practitioner and Obs/Gyn specialist but 56.9% health care providers performed standardized workups before initiating the treatment.
