Persistent infection by human papilloma virus (HPV) is considered to be the main cause of cervical cancer and other ano-genital cancers. Of more than 30 genotypes able to infect the anogenital tract, it is estimated that, worldwide, HPV 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancers and that HPV 6 and 11 cause more than 90% of genital warts. In the last few years, the morbidity and mortality and health costs associated with cervical cancer and its precursor lesions have stimulated intense research activity to achieve primary prevention of this disease through prophylactic vaccines.Animal tests demonstrated the immunogenic capacity of virus-like particles composed of self-assembled L1 proteins. Clinical trials with 2 prophylactic vaccine prototypes have demonstrated their effectiveness in the prevention of transitory and persistent incident cervical infections caused by HPV 16 and 18, as well as the cytological alterations and cervical lesions associated with these HPV types. With the imminent commercialization of the prophylactic HPV vaccine, there are high hopes for a marked reduction in the rates of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions amongst the vaccinated population within the next few years. At the same time, an intense debate has arisen on the conditions of vaccination (age, applicability, indication in men, composition according to geographic area, need for revaccination, acceptance) and its cost-effectiveness, as well as on the modification of screening conditions for cervical cancer in developed countries and the availability and accessibility of screening in the poorest countries.