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Out of 524 tumours of the ovary seen over a 20 year period, the diagnosis was that of a thecal tumour in 14 cases. In addition to the symptoms common to all ovarian tumours, in 7 cases there was metrorrhagia, including 4 post-menopausal. Vaginal cytology after the menopause was abnormally young in 6 cases. In 7 cases out of 13 the endometrium was hyperplasic. In only 5 cases were urinary oestrogen levels increased. At operation, the tumour was bilateral in 3 cases and ascites was present in 4. Histological findings were as follows: 6 thecomas, 4 fibro-thecomas, 1 luteinised thecal tumour, 3 tumours with granular cells and 1 case associated with a Brenner tumour. Two of these "mixed tumours" were malignant, with a fatal outcome. All the others were cured by operation. In young women in whom conservative procedures were used there were 4 subsequent pregnancies. The following questions were posed: The coexistence of ascites with tumours totally free of secretory cells (3 cases); The existence in true thecal tumours of signs of hyperoestrogenism (5 out of 6) whilst fibro-thecomas are not associated with any abnormal production of oestrogen.

28 cases of cervical carcinoma were treated by hysterectomy; 18 of the patients did not use oral contraceptives (OCs), and 10 had been on the pill. One evident difference between the 2 groups of patients was that patients on the pill were about 12 years younger, a fact attributed to the early disclosure of the problem. It is very difficult to diagnose between cervical dysplasia and intraepithelial cancer, since the biological effects of the pill make the differences barely visible. Patients on OCs should be examined at least once a year, and should be checked after 3 months after stopping the pill. Additional research on the subject is needed.