Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection, with an estimated 1 to 5.5 million new cases annually in the United States. HPV infections are categorized into high-risk and low-risk types based on their association with cervical cancer and precursor lesions. High-risk HPV types, such as 16, 18, 31, 33, 34, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, and 70, are linked to cervical cancer, while low-risk types include 6, 11, 42, 43, and 44. HPV infections can lead to various clinical conditions, from benign warts to cancer. Cervical cancer, the third most common cancer in women in the United States, is primarily caused by high-risk HPV types, with HPV-16 being the most prevalent. The virus replicates in the basal cells of the epithelium, causing changes that can lead to cancer over a period of 10 to 20 years. Diagnosis of HPV infections relies on cytology, histology, and molecular methods such as HPV DNA detection. Conventional Pap smears are the primary screening tool, but newer methods like monolayer cytology and HPV-specific PCR have improved sensitivity and specificity. Histopathological examination and HPV DNA detection using in situ hybridization are also crucial for confirming HPV infections and assessing the severity of lesions.Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection, with an estimated 1 to 5.5 million new cases annually in the United States. HPV infections are categorized into high-risk and low-risk types based on their association with cervical cancer and precursor lesions. High-risk HPV types, such as 16, 18, 31, 33, 34, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, and 70, are linked to cervical cancer, while low-risk types include 6, 11, 42, 43, and 44. HPV infections can lead to various clinical conditions, from benign warts to cancer. Cervical cancer, the third most common cancer in women in the United States, is primarily caused by high-risk HPV types, with HPV-16 being the most prevalent. The virus replicates in the basal cells of the epithelium, causing changes that can lead to cancer over a period of 10 to 20 years. Diagnosis of HPV infections relies on cytology, histology, and molecular methods such as HPV DNA detection. Conventional Pap smears are the primary screening tool, but newer methods like monolayer cytology and HPV-specific PCR have improved sensitivity and specificity. Histopathological examination and HPV DNA detection using in situ hybridization are also crucial for confirming HPV infections and assessing the severity of lesions.