Mucopurulent cervicitis: no longer ignored, but still misunderstood

The last decade has produced considerable advances in the diagnosis of the common etiologies of mucopurulent cervicitis (MPC), including Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and in the delineation of key aspects of their pathogenesis. Despite this, clear understanding of why these bacteria cause cervical inflammation in a minority of women who is infected with either organism is limited. Furthermore, many women who have MPC have neither of these infections detected, even when highly sensitive diagnostic tests are used. This article describes current data regarding this common condition, and charts new developments that might inform a more comprehensive understanding of MPC and its management, and of the more subtle signs of cervical inflammation that may impact women's susceptibility to a variety of infectious diseases, including HIV-1.