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Evidence linking female hormones to the development of malignant melanoma has been contradictory. The purpose of this study was to examine the risk of melanoma in relation to exogenous and endogenous hormonal variables in women, including oral contraceptives, replacement oestrogens, pregnancy, and menopause.

Hormonal and reproductive factors were evaluated using data from a personalinterview population-based case-control study of melanoma in women conducted in Connecticut during 1987–1989. Caucasian female incident invasive melanoma cases (n=308) were confirmed by standardized histopathological review. Caucasian female controls (n=233) were selected by random digit dialling and frequency-matched on age. Data were analysed using multivariate logistic regression.

Ever being pregnant, age …