[In which way do cigarette smoking and the various methods of contraception play a role in the development of cervical cancer and its pre-stages?]

The basis of this study was formed with 100 patients whose colposcopic and/or cytologic specimens were suspicious for precancerous or early stage cancer of the cervix and with 100 patients of the same age with normal cervical findings. Cigarette smoking as a cofactor in the development of cervical cancer and its precursors were confirmed by these results. Those patients who smoked comprised 74% of the cervical group as compared to 42% of the controls. 3 times as many patients in the cervical group smoked 20 or more cigarettes/day. 97 patients in the cervical group had been on the pill previously as compared to 55 of the controls. Patients with cervical lesions had on the average been 3 years younger when they began taking hormonal contraception than the controls. The use of condoms was significantly more frequent among the controls than among those in the other group (22/6). Thus condoms are a preferred form of protection against sexually transmitted diseases and indirectly against cervical carcinoma. (authors modified) (summaries in GER ENG)