Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer in women 35 years and older.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the distribution of abnormal cytohistopathology among low-income women 35 years and older compared with women younger than 35 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the 896 women who presented to the dysplasia clinic at an urban, public, tertiary care hospital with abnormal cervical cytology from September 23, 2008, to September 23, 2010. Statistical comparisons were made using t, χ(2), and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. RESULTS: Of the 896 patients, 460 (51%) were aged 35 years or older. Among the women 35 years and older, 56% had negative/benign histologic findings compared with 45% in women younger than 35 years. Conversely, women 35 years and older had lower rates of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 (14%) than women younger than 35 years (30%). However, the prevalence of cancer diagnosis, per colposcopy, increased significantly with age, affecting 6% of women aged 50 years or older, 2% of women aged 35 to 49 years, and 1% of women younger than 35 years (p = .0008). CONCLUSIONS: Women older than 35 years with abnormal cytology demonstrated increased severity of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia on histology compared with younger women. Although women younger than 35 years were more likely to have transient human papillomavirus infections, a very high prevalence of severe cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer was identified among women aged 35 years and older. Careful evaluation and follow-up must be performed for this group of women who may have previously been considered by some clinicians to be low risk on the basis of their age.

Contraceptive choices of overweight and obese women in a publically funded hospital: possible clinical implications.

BACKGROUND: Despite the growing obesity epidemic in the United States, family planning for overweight and obese women has been understudied. The aim of this study was to describe the contraception methods selected by normal weight, overweight and obese women. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed 7262 charts of women who underwent first trimester surgical termination of pregnancy at the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County between January 1, 2008, and January 1, 2010. We analyzed the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and choice of contraceptive method, after adjusting for age, race, smoking and level of education. RESULTS: When compared to patients with BMI <25 kg/m², overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m²) and obese patients (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) were more likely to select the intrauterine device (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.28-1.32 for overweight; OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.59-1.61 for obese), contraceptive ring (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.28-1.52 for overweight; OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.57-1.63 for obese) and tubal ligation (OR 1.5 95% CI 1.44-1.62 for overweight; OR 2.9, 95% CI 2.79-3.01 for obese). They were less likely to choose injectable contraception (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.59-0.81 for overweight; OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.48-0.56 for obese). There was no relationship between BMI and choice of condoms, oral contraceptive pills and implantable methods. CONCLUSION: In our population, the contraceptive choices of overweight and obese women differed from those of normal weight women. These differences in contraceptive selection are important to recognize in light of the potential effect of BMI on the safety and efficacy of different contraceptive methods. Further research is needed to evaluate the contraceptive preferences, risks and benefits for overweight and obese women.