Human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus, is the central etiologic agent in the development of cervical cancer and precancerous cervical lesions(1). There are more than 40 types of HPV which commonly infect the cervical epithelium as well as other anogenital tissues. At least 13 of these anogenital HPV types are considered oncogenic(2). The incidence of HPV infection is very high, with 3-year cumulative incidence rates reported to be as much as 43% amongst sexually active college aged-women, and the oncogenic HPV types cause the majority of these infections(3). Most cervical HPV infections, however, including those with oncogenic HPV types, resolve spontaneously within two years(4). Only a minority of oncogenic HPV infections persists and leads to clinically significant cervical disease.
