Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
What is PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ a clinical syndrome attributed to the ascending
spread of microorganisms from the vagina and endocervix to the endometrium, fallopian
tubes, one or both ovaries, and possibly pelvic and abdominal peritoneum
Who does PID affect? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ non-pregnant women and occasionally
pregnant women
What is another name for PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ acute salpingitis
In what ways does the lower genital tract infect the upper genital tract? - CORRECT
ANSWER-✔✔ Direct, lymphatic, and hematogenous spread of organisms
What are the most common organisms associated with PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔
Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis
What is another way organisms can ascend to the upper genital tract? - CORRECT
ANSWER-✔✔ Organisms may attach to sperm
How do oral contraceptives affect the development of PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔
May decrease risk of getting PID by changing endocervical mucus (making it thicker) and
therefore inhibiting upward spread of organisms
What may contribute to rapid spread of infection? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ mobility of
fallopian tubes
What are signs and symptoms of PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ lower abdominal
pain/pelvic pain (worse during walking or coitus), usually bilateral, pain may radiate down
legs, abnormal vaginal discharge, chills or fever
, Less common sx: N&V, dysuria, vaginal bleeding
What would one find upon physical examination? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ Lower
abdominal tenderness, distension, decreased bowel sounds, +/- rebound tenderness
What would one find upon pelvic examination? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ extreme uterine
and adnexal tenderness upon palpation, cervical motion tenderness, and mucopurulent
cervicitis
What are some clinical manifestations of PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ Fever (about
100.4), lower abdominal pain (mild to severe), Painful heavy periods (may be irregular or
bleeding between periods), dyspareunia, pus-like vaginal discharge, lower back ache, pain on
urination
What is the criteria for diagnosing PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ Abdominal tenderness,
+/- rebound
Adnexal tenderness
Cervical motion tenderness
PLUS one or more of the following:
Gram stain of endocervix positive for gram - intracellular diplococci
Temperature > 101
WBC > 10,000
Elevated ESR or CRP
Documented cervical infection (N. gonorrhea or C. trachomatis)
Pus on culdocentesis or laparoscopy
Pelvic abscess on US or bimanual exam
What are some investigations used to diagnose PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ CBC, ESR
or CRP, cultures (other tests like nucleic acid, antigen), pelvic exam, pelvic US, laparoscopy
What is the CBC looking for/ - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ leukocytosis with left shift
(immature cells are being kicked out to fight infection)
UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
What is PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ a clinical syndrome attributed to the ascending
spread of microorganisms from the vagina and endocervix to the endometrium, fallopian
tubes, one or both ovaries, and possibly pelvic and abdominal peritoneum
Who does PID affect? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ non-pregnant women and occasionally
pregnant women
What is another name for PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ acute salpingitis
In what ways does the lower genital tract infect the upper genital tract? - CORRECT
ANSWER-✔✔ Direct, lymphatic, and hematogenous spread of organisms
What are the most common organisms associated with PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔
Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis
What is another way organisms can ascend to the upper genital tract? - CORRECT
ANSWER-✔✔ Organisms may attach to sperm
How do oral contraceptives affect the development of PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔
May decrease risk of getting PID by changing endocervical mucus (making it thicker) and
therefore inhibiting upward spread of organisms
What may contribute to rapid spread of infection? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ mobility of
fallopian tubes
What are signs and symptoms of PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ lower abdominal
pain/pelvic pain (worse during walking or coitus), usually bilateral, pain may radiate down
legs, abnormal vaginal discharge, chills or fever
, Less common sx: N&V, dysuria, vaginal bleeding
What would one find upon physical examination? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ Lower
abdominal tenderness, distension, decreased bowel sounds, +/- rebound tenderness
What would one find upon pelvic examination? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ extreme uterine
and adnexal tenderness upon palpation, cervical motion tenderness, and mucopurulent
cervicitis
What are some clinical manifestations of PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ Fever (about
100.4), lower abdominal pain (mild to severe), Painful heavy periods (may be irregular or
bleeding between periods), dyspareunia, pus-like vaginal discharge, lower back ache, pain on
urination
What is the criteria for diagnosing PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ Abdominal tenderness,
+/- rebound
Adnexal tenderness
Cervical motion tenderness
PLUS one or more of the following:
Gram stain of endocervix positive for gram - intracellular diplococci
Temperature > 101
WBC > 10,000
Elevated ESR or CRP
Documented cervical infection (N. gonorrhea or C. trachomatis)
Pus on culdocentesis or laparoscopy
Pelvic abscess on US or bimanual exam
What are some investigations used to diagnose PID? - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ CBC, ESR
or CRP, cultures (other tests like nucleic acid, antigen), pelvic exam, pelvic US, laparoscopy
What is the CBC looking for/ - CORRECT ANSWER-✔✔ leukocytosis with left shift
(immature cells are being kicked out to fight infection)
