Genital tuberculosis in women most commonly reaches the fallopian tubes by which route of spread?

• A Ascending infection from the vagina and cervix
• B Lymphatic spread from inguinal nodes
• C Direct extension from the urinary bladder
• D Haematogenous spread from a primary pulmonary focus ✓

Explanation

Female genital tuberculosis is almost always secondary to a primary focus elsewhere, classically the lungs. Mycobacteria reach the tubes haematogenously during the bacteraemic phase of the primary infection, then descend to involve the endometrium. Ascending sexual transmission does not occur because the vaginal epithelium resists the organism, which distinguishes it from sexually transmitted PID. Lymphatic and direct spread are rare routes.

Reference: Shaw's Textbook of Gynaecology, 17th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.