Aspects Cytopathologiques du Col Utérin chez la Femme Enceinte à Yaoundé: Cytopathological Aspects of the Uterine Cervix of Pregnant Women in Yaoundé

Abstract

Introduction: Screening through regular cervical smear tests (CVS) enables precancerous lesions to be detected and treated at an early stage. In order to determine whether pregnant women constitute a target group for cervical cancer screening. We determined the cytopathological aspects of the cervix in pregnant women in Yaoundé. Methodology: The study took place from June to July 2010, in the gynaecology and obstetrics departments of the HGOPY (Yaoundé Gynaecology-Obstetrics and Paediatrics Hospital) and the pathological anatomy department of the CHUY (Yaoundé University Hospital). 180 pregnant women were included. Data were collected for each participant by filling in a questionnaire, followed by a speculum examination with the taking of a cervical smear. Cervical smear interpretation was based on the Bethesda 2001 system. Results: The age of the participants ranged from 15 to 42 years, with an average of 28.05 ±5.65 years. Approximately 10% of participants reported having had their first sexual intercourse before the age of 15, but the average age of all patients was 18.21 ± 2.79 years.  A proportion of 36.1% of respondents had already suffered from an STI at the time of the study and 67.8% had had more than two sexual partners, with an average of 3.37±2.75 for our entire population. Cytology revealed a high proportion of inflammatory lesions in our patients (56.7%), of which 15.4% had a proven infectious aetiology, followed by indeterminate lesions (3.3% ASC-US, no AGC) and precancerous lesions (2.8%). Conclusion: Cervical pathology during pregnancy remains dominated by cervicitis. Precancerous lesions accounted for 2.8% of cases. Pregnant women are as much at risk of developing cervical cancer as non-pregnant women.