Histologic development of cervical ectopy - Relationship to reproductive hormones

Baekground and Objectives: Cervical ectopy has been proposed as a risk fact or for chlamydial infection, HIV, and other sexually transmitted diseases ( STDs), Ectopy is a histologic phenomenon resulting from a complex interplay of morphologic and hormonal processes. Reproductive hormones influence the production of ectopy during late fetal life, puberty, pregnancy, and with use of oral contraceptives. Ectopy is modified over time by squamous metapl asia and epitheliazation, low pH, trauma, and possibly by cervical infectio n, Study Design: The authors review the histologic development of ectopy from late fetal life to menopause to understand STD risk. Results: Ectopy is often assessed and quantified by direct, unaided Observa tion during speculum examinations. This method may result in inaccurate est imates and misclassification with the transformation zone. Conclusion: Valid, reproducible measures of ectopy are necessary for epidem iologic studies to examine the impact of exogenous hormonal contraceptives on the development of ectopy and on potential infection risk.