Function assays showed that overexpression of miR-138-5p reduced cervical cancer cell proliferation, arrested cells in the G0 /G1 phase, and induced cell apoptosis in vitro. Remarkably, SIRT1 was confirmed as a direct target of miR-138-5p in cervical cancer, and miR-138-5p exerted the reduced tumor functions by suppressing SIRT1 expression. Moreover, we further identified that lncRNA H19 could act as a molecular sponge of miR-138-5p in cervical cancer progression. Taken together, these results suggested that miR-138-5p could suppress cervical cancer cell progression by targeting SIRT1.This decreased expression of miR-138-5p correlated with advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, poor differentiation, lymph nodes metastasis, and poor overall survival of cervical cancer patients.