Answers 2026/2027 Herzing University
Q1. A patient reports new vaginal discharge with itching and odor.
Which approach best supports accurate diagnosis?
A) Treat empirically for candidiasis because itching is present
B) Diagnose based on discharge color alone
C) Obtain a focused history and evaluate the discharge, odor, irritation,
sexual exposures, and relevant examination findings
D) Assume all symptomatic discharge represents a sexually transmitted
infection
Correct Answer: C) Obtain a focused history and evaluate the discharge,
odor, irritation, sexual exposures, and relevant examination findings
Rationale: Several infectious and noninfectious disorders can produce
overlapping vaginal symptoms, so treatment should follow appropriate
assessment rather than one symptom alone.
Q2. Which presentation is most characteristic of bacterial vaginosis?
A) Thick white discharge with marked vulvar itching
B) Painful genital vesicles
C) Painless genital ulcer
D) Thin discharge with a characteristic fishy odor
Correct Answer: D) Thin discharge with a characteristic fishy odor
Rationale: Bacterial vaginosis commonly produces a thin vaginal discharge
with a noticeable fishy odor and relatively little inflammation.
Q3. Intense vulvar itching with a thick, white, clumpy vaginal
discharge most strongly suggests:
A) bacterial vaginosis
B) vulvovaginal candidiasis
C) pelvic inflammatory disease
D) ovarian torsion
Correct Answer: B) vulvovaginal candidiasis
Rationale: Candida commonly causes significant vulvovaginal pruritus and
a thick white discharge.
, Q4. Yellow-green discharge accompanied by vulvovaginal irritation
after a new sexual exposure should raise concern for:
A) genitourinary syndrome of menopause
B) trichomoniasis
C) endometriosis
D) uterine leiomyoma
Correct Answer: B) trichomoniasis
Rationale: Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection that can
produce yellow-green discharge, irritation, and inflammation.
Q5. Pelvic pain accompanied by cervical motion tenderness and
abnormal cervical discharge should raise particular concern for:
A) primary dysmenorrhea
B) polycystic ovary syndrome
C) pelvic inflammatory disease
D) uncomplicated cystitis
Correct Answer: C) pelvic inflammatory disease
Rationale: Pelvic tenderness in the setting of lower reproductive tract
inflammation is an important clinical pattern associated with PID.
Q6. Why is prompt recognition and treatment of pelvic inflammatory
disease important?
A) PID routinely causes ovarian failure
B) Tubal inflammation and scarring can contribute to infertility, ectopic
pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain
C) Untreated PID always progresses to malignancy
D) PID permanently suppresses menstruation
Correct Answer: B) Tubal inflammation and scarring can contribute to
infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain
Rationale: Upper reproductive tract inflammation may damage the fallopian
tubes and produce important long-term reproductive complications.
Q7. A reproductive-aged patient presents with unexpected uterine
bleeding. Which assessment should generally occur early?
A) Bone-density testing
B) Mammography