BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection from Turkish women with normal and abnormal cytology. METHODS Our study population consisted of 1252 women with normal and abnormal cytology. In our clinic, cervical cancer screening was performed by liquid-based cytology testing (ThinPrep Pap Test). Reflex high-risk (HR) HPV testing (Cervista HPV HR and HPV 16/18) was performed in cases with abnormal cytology (n = 330). HR HPV testing was performed to 922 cases with normal cytology. RESULTS HR HPV was detected in 18.7% of negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM) samples, and in 79.7% of abnormal cytology cases. HPV types 16 and/or 18 were found in 18.6% and 35.3% of normal cytology cases and abnormal cytology cases, respectively. Of all 435 HR HPV-positive samples, HPV type 16 and/or 18 prevalence was significantly higher in cases with more severe cytological abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS The HPV prevalence among Turkish women with normal and abnormal cytology identified in this study largely concurs with those in other studies throughout the world. HPV types 16 and/or 18 were detected significantly in normal cytology cases in our study. We also found that, as has been previously demonstrated, certain HPV genotypes (16/18) are associated with more severe pathologies. However, larger epidemiological studies in different regions of Turkey are needed to evaluate the accurate prevalence of HPV infection throughout the country.