A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF DRUGS IN FEMALE INFERTILITY AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE IN SOUTH INDIA

Introduction: A disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. The demand for overcoming infertility is increasing year by year. Hence there is a quantum jump in the technology used in the diagnosis and therapy of infertility. Aim/ Objective: To observe the rationality among the prescriptions with principle aim to study the efficacy, tolerability, safety and cost-effectiveness of the drugs used in infertility cases and to evaluate the prescribing pattern and criteria for selection of drugs for infertility. Methodology: A retrospective, observational study was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Owaisi Hospital and Research Centre, Hyderabad, India. The duration of the study was 15 month period from September 2015 to Dec 2016 on 300 consenting female infertility patients. Results: In our study 43% of patients belonged to age group 26-30. 45% were newly diagnosed patients,65.3 % of patients had primary infertility and whereas 34.6% had secondary infertility. Menstrual irregularity were the most common cause of infertility (36%). The patients were treated with drug alone depending on their age and cause of infertility. Clomiphene Citrate (12.76%) was the most common drug prescribed for ovulation induction.55.3 % of patients conceived during our study, women who failed to achieve pregnancy needed Assisted Reproductive Technology. The PDD and DDD was calculated to achieve rationality of prescriptions. Conclusion: Infertility is a critical component of reproductive health which is a global public health challenge. The use of pharmacoepidemological data can help in designing, delivering and evaluating many interventions to improve the use of fertility drugs and outcome of patients as Infertility is a global health issue.