Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are epitheliotropic and double-stranded DNA viruses, which produce verrucous lesions in mucoses and skin. There are more than 100 types, and some of them have an oncogenic potential which depends of its capacity of transformation and integration into the host cell. HPV are strongly associated with cervical and other kind of cancer. Even though the traditional diagnostic methods like Papanicolaou cytology (Pap) continues being a valuable tool for the tamizaje of the injuries produced by the VPH, in the last decades they have been used molecular techniques like the polymerase chain reaction, Hibridization in situ, capture of hybrids among others; which are more effective in the detection of the infection has helped in the screening of HPV however, moleculars techniques such as polymerase chain reaction and hybrids capture has been used in the last years showing better diagnostic efficiency. The main purpose of this review is to give an update of HPV which will help to have a better understanding of the virus, its pathological and epidemiological behavior, and the latest in technology for its diagnostic and prevention.