Despite near-universal tuberculous salpingitis, the ovarian stroma is characteristically spared in genital tuberculosis. The anatomical reason for this relative sparing is:

• A Absence of lymphatic drainage from the ovary
• B Rapid arterial blood flow washing away organisms
• C High local concentration of oestrogen inhibiting bacillary growth
• D Thick tunica albuginea resisting penetration by tubercle bacilli ✓

Explanation

The ovary is protected by its dense fibrous tunica albuginea, which tubercle bacilli rarely penetrate, so infection is usually confined to the serosal surface as perioophoritis from adjacent diseased tubes. True intraovarian tuberculous abscess occurs only if the capsule is breached, typically at the ovulation stigma. Lymphatic drainage, hormonal milieu, and arterial flow do not explain the selective sparing of ovarian stroma.

Reference: Berek and Novak's Gynecology, 16th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.