A study of a population sample of women in Göteborg aged 38--60 years was carried out in 1968--1969. This population sample has been re-studied during the years 1974--1975. Altogether 1302 women participated in this second study, which means 89.1% of those studied in 1968--1969 and 80.3% of those initially sampled. Twenty-six women had died during the interval between the two studies, more than half of them from neoplastic disease. Information is given about those who had moved or were inaccessible at the time of the second study or who refused to participate. The performance of the examination is described and research projects are outlined.