[Effects of smoking on the genital tract of the woman]

Cigarette smoking exerts a carcinogenous effect in various organs, either by direct contact or by distant nocivity. The authors present a survey of literature dealing with the effect of cigarette smoking on the female genital tract. The respective data show clearly that cigarette smoking may induce carcinoma of the cervix, whereas no significant correlation between cigarette smoking and carcinoma of the uterus can be established. Epidemiologic, etiologic and pathogenetic aspects of cigarette smoking and its influence on the genital tract are presented and discussed.