ORAL-CONTRACEPTIVE USE AND ADENOCARCINOMA OF CERVIX

The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the cervix in the USA more than dou bled between the early 1970s and the mid 1980s among women under 35 ye ars of age. It was suggested that this increase was due to the introdu ction of oral contraceptives in the early 1960s. Adenocarcinoma of the cervix diagnosed in women born after 1935 was identified between 1977 and 1991, from the Los Angeles County Cancer Surveillance Program, Da ta from personal interviews of 195 cases and 386 controls (matched on age, race, and neighbourhood) were analysed. Information on medical, s exual, contraceptive, reproductive history, previous cervical smears, sexually transmitted diseases was collected. Compared with never use, eve, use of oral contraceptives was associated with twice as great a r isk of adenocarcinoma of the cervix (adjusted odds ratio 2.1, 95% CI 1 .1-3.8). The highest risk was observed for oral contraceptive use for more than 12 years (4.4, 1.8-10.8). No additional increased risk was f ound for early age at start of oral contraceptive use, use before age 20 or before first pregnancy, time since first use, time since last us e, or particular formulations, once total duration of use had been acc ounted for.