Cervical cancer is the most common cause of cancer in India. It is considered a preventable disease by WHO because it can be diagnosed in its precancerous stage. But in India women come much too late when the cancer is incurable and no treatment is available. However mass screening is not feasible in resource poor settings as it is expensive. But opportunistic screening and down staging can go a long way in controlling the disease. Epidemiological data suggested a sexually transmitted agent asrisk factor based on, early age at first intercourse, multiple sexual partners and a male partner withmultiple sexual partners in causation of carcinoma cervix. Human papilloma virus is currentlyconsidered an important factor in cervical oncogenesis. Host gene mutations are also found to beassociated with carcinoma cervix. Other potential risk factors are use of oral contraceptives,cigarette smoking, genital infections and lack of circumcision in male sexual partner.