The continuing morbidity and mortality rate related to cervical cancer necessitates an improvement in current screening and diagnostic programs that target early detection of its curable precursor, cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL). Optical spectroscopy is a technique that has the capability to improve the accuracy and efficacy of current techniques for the detection of SILs. We have utilized fluorescence spectroscopy for the differential detection of SILs, in vivo and we have also evaluated the utility of near infrared (IR) Raman spectroscopy for the characterization of SILs in vitro.