The presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 and 18 transcripts was determined by reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction in ovarian and endometrial carcinoma tissue. HPV-16 DNA sequences were detected in 50.0% (nine of 18) of the ovarian carcinomas and in 44.4% (eight of 18) of endometrial carcinomas. HPV-18 DNA sequences were found in 16.7% (three of 18) of both the ovarian and endometrial carcinomas. Using RNA-polymerase chain reaction analysis, we found three out of nine (33.3%) of the HPV-16 DNA-positive and one in three (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.