This study was undertaken to investigate the relation of cancer of the cervix to circumcision status as determined by actual examination of the marital partner. A total of 1,148 histologically confirmed cases from five New York City hospitals were included in the study: 454 of invasive carcinoma, 411 of carcinoma in situ, and 283 of cervical dysplasia. Controls were matched by age and ethnic group. The examination of marital partners for circumcision status was limited to patients and matched controls who were married to first husband. Five degrees of circumcision status, i.e. coverage of the glans by the foreskin, were recorded. Patients married to first husband included 91 with invasive carcinoma, 140 with carcinoma in situ, and 98 with cervical dysplasia. Successful completion of examination of the marital partner was obtained for 64 of the invasive carcinoma case-control pairs, 108 of the carcinoma in situ pairs, and 74 of the cervical dysplasia pairs. No significant differences were found in the circumcision status of marial partners of cases and controls. This held true even when the invasiv and in situ pairs were combined to provide a series of 172 pairs.