Which condition is a serious complication of sexually transmitted infections with increased risk of infertility and ectopic pregnancy, presenting with lower abdominal tenderness, chandelier's sign, and purulent cervical discharge?

Which condition is a serious complication of sexually transmitted infections with increased risk of infertility and ectopic pregnancy, presenting with lower abdominal tenderness, chandelier's sign, and purulent cervical discharge?

• A. Pelvic inflammatory disease
• B. Endometritis
• C. Oophoritis
• D. Pelvic abscess

Answer: (A)

Pelvic inflammatory disease is an ascending infection of the upper female genital tract that often follows sexually transmitted pathogens such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. It can involve the uterus, fallopian tubes, and sometimes ovaries, and the downstream effect is scarring of the fallopian tubes. This scarring disrupts fertilization and tubal transport, which markedly increases the risks of infertility and ectopic pregnancy. The signs described—lower abdominal tenderness with cervical motion tenderness (the chandelier sign) and purulent cervical discharge—fit PID because they reflect inflammation from the cervix up through the uterus and tubes. If not treated promptly, PID can progress to serious complications; endometritis and oophoritis can coexist as parts of the same inflammatory process, and a pelvic abscess can develop as a complication, but the condition that best explains both the presentation and the long-term infertility/ectopic risks is PID.

Pelvic inflammatory disease is an ascending infection of the upper female genital tract that often follows sexually transmitted pathogens such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. It can involve the uterus, fallopian tubes, and sometimes ovaries, and the downstream effect is scarring of the fallopian tubes. This scarring disrupts fertilization and tubal transport, which markedly increases the risks of infertility and ectopic pregnancy. The signs described—lower abdominal tenderness with cervical motion tenderness (the chandelier sign) and purulent cervical discharge—fit PID because they reflect inflammation from the cervix up through the uterus and tubes. If not treated promptly, PID can progress to serious complications; endometritis and oophoritis can coexist as parts of the same inflammatory process, and a pelvic abscess can develop as a complication, but the condition that best explains both the presentation and the long-term infertility/ectopic risks is PID.