A strong clinicopathologic and virologic association has been documented between human papillomaviral infection and cervical neoplasia. In essence, the triage of screening disorders amounts to the differentiation of benign warty hyperplasia from higher grades of dysplasia. This review presents a simple explanation of the biology of papillomaviral infection and examines the evidence implicating these viruses in the pathogenesis of genital cancer. The article then explains how a modern understanding of sexually transmitted papillomaviral infections helps patient management. Finally, future research prospects are briefly explored.