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All patients hospitalized in 1982 at the Department of Gynecology in Malmö because of malignancy of the cervix uteri attended an interview study concerning the presence of cervical cancer among their nearest relatives. In addition, these patients were questioned concerning earlier gonorrheal infection. The blood group was determined as also was the secretory status and Gm allotype. As a control group the families of the male consorts were used. Cervical cancer was found significantly more often in mothers of the patients (7.9%) than in the consorts' mothers (1.0%). Sisters, aged 20 or over, of the patients had cervical cancer significantly more often (7.5%) than sisters of the consorts (1.1%). Moreover, cervical cancer in mothers and/or sisters was found in 15.6% of the patients. In cases of invasive cancer or previously operated CIS, this figure was 17.5%. The patients did not differ significantly from the normal population regarding blood group or secretory status. A somewhat lower, although non-significant, frequency of Gm(1) allotype was found in patients with invasive cancer, compared with patients with CIS. Patients with a positive family history of cancer had more often had gonorrhea (24%) than patients with a negative family history (18%). The study indicates a multifactorial etiology for cervical cancer.

In our in vitro fertilization program, only clomiphene/human chorionic gonadotropin-stimulated cycles have been used, yielding 1.6 preovulatory oocytes/woman at follicle aspiration. The cleavage rate was significantly influenced by the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa and by the percentage of motile spermatozoa in the spermiograms. At embryo replacement, a tilted uterus obtained by a full bladder in the woman simplifies the replacement procedure. In the last 12 months, 47 embryo transfers have been carried out, resulting in five clinical pregnancies. Of these pregnancies, one has proceeded to term, one resulted in a miscarriage, and three resulted in ectopic pregnancies.

Since January 1, 1974, 43,000 routine ultrasound examinations have been performed on 22,400 pregnant women in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Malmö General Hospital. At the present time, one examination is performed in the seventeenth week of pregnancy and one in thirty-third week. At the first examination, the number of fetuses, fetal anatomy, cardiac activity, and placental site are indicated. Fetometry is performed. Gestational age is adjusted according to the value of the biparietal diameter. The second ultrasound examination is aimed at detecting fetal growth deviations and malformations. In 15% of all pregnancies, ultrasound corrected gestational age by more than 14 days. Ultrasound appeared to be superior to the clinical assessment in 88% of these discrepant pregnancies in predicting date of delivery. The early examination detected 98% of the twin pregnancies, with no false positive results. If an ultrasound examination had been performed within 3 weeks of delivery, 92% of the fetuses with growth retardation were detected. Altogether, the program detected 60% of the growth-retarded fetuses. In 0.4% of the examinations, malformations were detected (0.6% during the last 2 years). A cost-benefit analysis suggested that large economical gains are to be realized by screening. However, organizational and educational problems must be properly solved before general screening is offered to a healthy pregnant population.

In the past five years gradual introduction of ultrasonic screening of pregnant women increased the ante-partum detection of multiple pregnancy from 60% in 1971 to 95% in the first half of 1975. At the same time the average gestational age for dection of multiple pregnancies diminished from thirty-three to twenty-five weeks. The corresponding figures for 1963 were 32% and thirty-six weeks. Plasma human-placental-lactogen concentrations were assessed for their value in selecting a smaller target group for subsequent ultrasonic screening. All but 2 of 39 twin pregnancies examined by single H.P.L. determinations had H.P.L. values more than 1 S.D. above the mean of the normal distribution. The use of plasma-H.P.L. screening might lower the proportion of patients requiring ultrasonography for antepartum diagnosis of multiple pregnancies to 16% of the total pregnant population.

In a prospective study of anti-emetic drug use during 6 376 pregnancies, the previously demonstrated negative correlation between the use of such drugs and miscarriage was confirmed. It is probably completely due to less frequent and possibly less severe morning sickness complaints in pregnancies ending with a miscarriage. A slight positive correlation is found between the use of anti-emetics and infant malformation. A detailed analysis showed that this was mainly due to a high incidence of drug use (mainly promethazine) among women giving birth to infants with congenital dislocation of the hip. The probable indirect relationship is discussed.

Results froma prospective study in Malmö performed in 1963-65 are used to discuss the possible role of hormonal drugs in human fetal maldevelopment. Appr. 2 per cent of all women had a child born were treated with gestagens during early pregnancy and slightly more had used Primodos as a pregnancy test. No harmful effect on embryonic development can be demonstrated.