Factors associated with pathologic colposcopic and cytologic changes in 500 clinically asymptomatic women.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the role of cytologic and colposcopic diagnosis in the early detection of pathologic cervical changes and the effect of the number of births, a history of abortion, the number of sexual partners, and contraceptive use on pathologic colposcopic and cytologic changes.

METHOD

The 500 study participants were seen at the Obstetric-Gynecologic Clinic of Prishtina, Kosovo, in 2006 and 2007. They were assigned to 5 groups of 100 according to number of births, a history of abortion (whether spontaneous or induced), and total number of sexual partners, but the use of contraceptives was also analyzed. All participants underwent cytologic and colposcopic evaluations.

RESULTS

Colposcopic atypia was observed in 70 participants (14%) and 77 (15.4%) had other findings. The degree of colposcopic atypia increased with the number of sexual partners, as did the frequency of infections. Most (91.2%) of the women with positive cytologic results were from groups 1 and 2, and the remaining 8.8% of these women were from groups 3, 4, and 5. From 44 patients with positive pathology results, 29 (65.9%) had chronic cervicitis, 13 (29. 5%) had hyperplasia, and 2 (4.5%) had carcinoma in situ.

CONCLUSION

Number of births, a history of abortion, number of sexual partners, and contraceptive use directly affected pathologic colposcopic and cytologic changes.