OBJECTIVES: To identify the most appropriate instruments which could be used to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) on the full-spectrum of human papillomavirus (HPV) related cervical disease, namely HPV infection, cervical screening, pre-cancer and cancer. METHODS: Electronic databases (PsycINFO, EMBASE, and PUBMED), the internet, and conference proceeding abstracts were searched. The impact of the health states on HRQoL domains was documented and each instrument was reviewed according to its domain coverage, assessment features, and psychometric properties. RESULTS: The search strategy produced 1011 articles. Of these 94 reported HRQoL data, of which 53 used multidimensional HRQoL instruments. Results indicated that HPV infection, screening, cervical precancer and cancer have a direct and sizeable effect on HRQoL, although not all domains were impacted per health state. Overall, 24 different instruments were identified and categorised as follows: generic (8), illness-specific (2), cancer specific (5), psychosocial (5), or screening instruments (4). A review of the instruments suggest that the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey (SF-36)would be most appropriate generic HRQoL instrument which could be used in any health state, and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30) would be the most suitable HRQoL cancer-specific instrument in cervical cancer. Either the Psychosocial Effects of Abnormal Pap Smears Questionnaire (PEAPS-Q) or the Cervical Dysplasia Distress Questionnaire (CDDQ) could be used to assess psychosocial impact in cervical dysplasia, and either the Quality of Life for Population Screening (SCREENQOL) or the Self-Evaluation Quality of Life Questionnaire (SEQOL) could be used as a screening instrument. CONCLUSIONS: There was no single instrument that covered all the domains that would be directly relevant to each health state. Thus, our recommendation is that when possible a battery of instruments including one from each category identified should be administered in any study.