Fifty women with human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced abnormal cervical smears were randomly allocated to either CO2-laser vaporization or routine control. The success rate at the 6 months check was 100% after laser treatment compared to that of 72% in the control group (p less than 0.05). Although longer follow-up is needed to fully establish the efficacy of the treatment, the method seems appropriate to this large group of women at risk of developing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.