Current Hormone Therapy Associated With Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

This study evaluated the relationship between hormone therapy (HT) and squamous cytologic abnormalities of the cervix in postmenopausal Korean women. Two hundred sixty-eight cases of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), or more severe cervical lesions, and 4728 negative controls were included in this study. Hormone therapy status was analyzed as functions of 2 categories (current user and noncurrent user) and 3 categories (never user, past user, and current user). With HT users categorized as current HT users and noncurrent users, HT use had a significant relationship with abnormal cervical squamous cells (chi2, P = 0.018). When the noncurrent users were more categorized into never users and past users, the relationship did not exist. There was a greater risk of cellular abnormality among current HT users than never users (odds ratio, 1.805; 95% confidence interval, 1.042-3.127; P = 0.035); the risk was no greater among past users than the never users. The risk was limited to ASCUS and not related to more advanced lesions. In postmenopausal women, current HT use might have an effect on initial abnormal changes of the cervical squamous cells, such as ASCUS; however, the effect is extinguished with respect to more advanced lesions.