Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide, and the leading cause of cancer deaths to women in developing countries.  Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been shown to be the major etiologic agent of cervical cancer, as more than 90% of all cervical cancer cases contain HPV DNA.  The upstream regulatory region (URR) of HPV controls early viral gene expression.  The URR contains numerous cis-enhancer elements to cellular, as well as viral, factors.  As the binding of transcription factors to the URR controls the expression of viral genes involved in replication, transcription, and oncogenesis, it is important to understand what role these transcription factors play in the HPV life cycle.  Steroid hormones have been suggested to act as cofactors for HPV-associated neoplastic development, due to epidemiological evidence, which suggests a risk of developing cervical cancer for oral contraceptive users.  Therefore, it is important to understand what role steroid hormones play in the viral life cycle.