Cervical cancer or cancer of the cervix uteri is an abnormal growth of squamous or glandular epithelial cells caused by persistent infection with the oncogenic or high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV). While most HPV infections of the cervix are transient, persistent HPV infections of the cervix may cause cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and subsequently develop into invasive cervical cancer (ICC). HIV-infected women are more likely to have persistent HPV infections, and are also more likely to develop CIN and ICC compared with women without HIV. Cervical cancer in the HIV-infected woman is considered an AIDS-defining illness. The successful introduction of cervical cancer screening programs with cervical cytology, otherwise known as the Papanicolau (Pap) test (which may detect treatable premalignant CIN lesions) has been associated with a 70 % decline in cervical cancer incidence and mortality. Cervical cancer screening recommendations may now include HPV testing and are constantly evolving for HIV-infected and non-infected women. Primary prevention with prophylactic HPV vaccines should prevent cervical cancer in the future; trials assessing immunogenicity and efficacy in HIV-infected women are ongoing. Early stage ICC is treated surgically whereas advanced ICC is managed with chemoradiation.