THE ROLE OF SEXUAL FACTORS IN THE ETIOLOGY OF CERVICAL DYSPLASIA

The effect of sexual behaviour on the risk for cervical dysplasia was evaluated in a case-control study. Cases in = 257) had a histologicall y confirmed diagnosis of cervical dysplasia. Controls (n = 705) were s ampled from the general population. A postal questionnaire was used to obtain information about, among other things, age at first sexual int ercourse, number of sexual partners, current frequency of intercourse and contraceptive use. Information was also collected about other risk factors for cervical dysplasia, in order to adjust for possible confo unding. We observed higher risks for cervical dysplasia (mild, moderat e and severe) with increasing number of sexual partners. This effect a ppeared to be dependent on smoking behaviour. For women who reported m ore than six sexual partners, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was 9.1 (9 5% CI : 3.5-23.7) for non-smokers, and 26.4 (95% CI : 11.8-58.8) for w omen who smoked greater-than-or-equal-to 20 cigarettes per day. The ef fects of age at first sexual intercourse and current frequency of inte rcourse disappeared after adjustment for other risk factors. Use of or al contraceptives for > 10 years increased the risk (aOR = 2.3; 95% CI : 1.2-4.6). Thus, the number of sexual partners, especially in combin ation with smoking behaviour, appeared to be the most important risk f actor for cervical dysplasia.