This study was designed to assess the sexuality of young women survivi
ng acute leukaemia in childhood or early adolescence. Thirty of 31 sur
vivors were compared with 50 healthy age matched. controls. Three meth
ods were used: a self report questionnaire, a face to face interview c
onducted by a psychiatrist, and a projective psychological test. The a
ge at initiation of dating and sexual activity, the frequency of sexua
l intercourse, and opinions on sexual behaviour were similar in the tw
o groups. With regard to inner sexuality, however, the survivors diffe
red significantly from the healthy controls. Their images of sexuality
were more restrictive, and their attitudes, especially those concerni
ng sexual pleasure, were more negative than those of the controls. Sex
ual identity among the survivors was less often feminine and more ofte
n infantile as compared with the controls. The findings obtained with
the three methods of assessment were concordant.