OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) among women with cervical lesions using the EuroQol EQ-5D instrument to establish utilities of health states in mainland China. METHODS: Patients with cervical precursor lesions and cancer were recruited from the West China Second Affiliated Hospital between May 2010 and January 2011. They were surveyed with the EQ-5D prior to treatment, and at 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. We calculated QoL scores through the five-item descriptive system of health states of the EQ-5D and the classic UK preference weighting system. RESULTS: A total of 194 women completed the questionnaire, including 78 with cervical precursor lesions, 85 with early cervical cancer (FIGO Stage Ia, Ib and II 2a), and 31 with advanced cervical cancer (FIGO stage II2b+). Significant statistical significance was noted in QoL scores between different stages of cervical lesions (F=33.94, P<0.001) and between different time points (F=23.41, P<0.001). Pairwise comparisons showed that there was a consistent decline in the QoL scores in the spectrum of cervical lesions at each time point after treatment (all P<0.05). There existed an increasing trend in the timeline of treatment among women with cervical precursor lesions, though the QoL scores were not statistically different between 3 and 6 months after treatment (P=0.099). For early cervical cancer, the QoL scores declined in the first month of treatment (P=0.057), and increased to a higher level than prior to treatment at 6 months (P<0.001). Despite a statistical difference between 1 and 6 months after treatment (P=0.016), advanced cervical cancer showed a similar secular trend. CONCLUSIONS: Women with early stage of cervical lesion have better QoL than those with late stage of disease. The QoL improves for cervical precursor lesions as treatment continues, while it declines for cervical cancer patients in the immediate time after treatment and increases afterwards.