The presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 and 18 transcripts was determined by reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in ovarian and endometrial carcinoma tissue. HPV-16 DNA sequences were detected in 50.0% (9/18) of the ovarian carcinomas and in 44.4% (8/18) of endometrial carcinomas. HPV-18 DNA sequences were found in 16.7% (3/18) of both the ovarian and endometrial carcinomas. Using RNA-PCR analysis, we found 3 out of 9 (33.3%) of the HPV-16 DNA-positive and 1 in 3 (33.3%) of the HPV-18 DNA-positive ovarian carcinomas were transcriptionally active, contrary to the HPV-16 DNA-positive or HPV-18 DNA-positive endometrial carcinomas. The results suggest that HPV RNA may be detected in ovarian carcinomas though its biological significance remains to be elucidated. HPV RNA is not demonstrable in endometrial carcinoma using the current primer sets. Further investigations are necessary for a final conclusion.