SUMMARY Purpose: the number of male sexual partners, age, precocious beginning of sexual activity, cigarette smoking and oral contraception were correlated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, as were cervical ectopia, although with conflicting results. The objective is to analyze a group of women with HPV infection and to verify the incidence of cervical ectopia. Methods: we have studied 471 women with Papanicolaou smears suggesting HPV infection (Schneider et al.'s criteria) and its relationship with cervical ectopia, beginning of sexual activity and the use of oral contraceptive. Results: of the total of cases, 182 (38.6%) had ectopia. Of these, 157 (86.3%) were 30 years old or less, compared to 47.8% of women without ectopia (p<0.001, chi² test). A percentage of 77.4 of cases with ectopia had the beginning of sexual activity before 18 years compared to 71.3% cases without ectopia. Among women with ectopia, 45.7% had taken the pill recently compared to 24.3% which had not (p<0.001, chi² test). Conclusions: it was concluded that the beginning of sexual activity was not correlated with ectopia. The prevalence of ectopia was more commom in women under 30 years and/or in use of oral contraceptive.
HPV infection.; Uterine cervix: preneoplastic lesions.; Oral contraceptive
