Cervix cancer precursors in young offspring of low-income families.

The revolutionary changes in the mores and practices of adolescent sexuality have not as yet resulted in a significant increase in the rates of cervical cancer precursors in a study of 29,600 young women under age 21. The study represents women from families of low socioeconomic status. Over a 21-year period no cases of carcinoma in situ nor of invasive cervix cancer occurred. The dysplasia rate was low (0.9/1000), and when prerevolutionary and revolutionary periods were compared, there were no significant differences in the rates. Cryocautery was successful in ablating dysplasia, as was follow-up without treatment. An attempt will be made to continue to monitor these young women of the sexual revolution since the effects of their past and current participation might not be discernible for years to come.