title: Prevalence of preinvasive and invasive lesions of the cervix in sexual workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of preinvasive and invasive lesions of the cervix in sexual workers.
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Manuel Noriega Trigo Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela. jnunezt@telcel.net.ve
authors.forename: José T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.forename: Mariela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pino
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Girón
authors.forename: Bárbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bolet