Prevalence of preinvasive and invasive lesions of the cervix in sexual workers.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of preinvasive and invasive lesions of the cervix in sexual workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 438 prostitutes were analyzed. Each prostitute had a clinical history, gynecological examination, Pap smear, and a colposcopic examination of the cervix. A cervical biopsy was taken under colposcopic guidance when there was abnormal epithelium. RESULTS: The sexual workers' mean age was 32.2 + 8 years (mean + SD), age of first sexual intercourse was 15.9 + 2 years, parity mean was 4.1 + 2, births were 3 + 3, and age of first delivery was 16.6 + 4.7 years. Cervical biopsies were taken from 84 patients because of atypical epithelium under colposcopic examination. Sixty-four (76.2%) patients had preinvasive and invasive lesions: 41(64%) had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, 12 (18.8%) had CIN 2, 8 (12.5%) had CIN 3, 2 (3.2%) had microinvasive carcinoma (Ca), and 1 (1.5%) had invasive Ca 1. Sexual workers with cervical pathology were younger (p < .05) and had their first sexual intercourse experience earlier than those sexual workers who did not have lesions (p < .02).Preinvasive lesions were found in sexual workers in their 30s, and invasive lesions were found in sexual workers under the age of 40. CONCLUSIONS: Preinvasive lesions of the cervix have increased 2-fold in Venezuelan sexual workers and the invasive lesions are stable but found in younger sexual workers.