Genital prolapse: POP-Q staging: practice question

A OBG question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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OBG · Genital prolapse: POP-Q staging

Sample item

On pelvic organ prolapse quantification, the leading edge of the prolapse in a woman straining lies 3 cm beyond the hymen, and the total vaginal length is 9 cm. What is the stage?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Stage 3

In POP-Q, stage 0 is no prolapse, stage 1 means the leading edge is more than 1 cm above the hymen, stage 2 means it is within 1 cm above or below the hymen, stage 3 means it extends more than 1 cm beyond the hymen but less than total vaginal length minus 2 cm, and stage 4 is complete eversion. Here the prolapse extends 3 cm beyond the hymen and is under 7 cm, so it is stage 3.

Option by option

  • A. Stage 1

    Stage 1 is more than 1 cm above the hymen.

  • B. Stage 3 (correct)

    Correct. More than 1 cm beyond the hymen but not complete eversion is stage 3.

  • C. Stage 4

    Stage 4 requires protrusion of at least total vaginal length minus 2 cm.

  • D. Stage 2

    Stage 2 is limited to within 1 cm of the hymen.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is B, Stage 3. In POP-Q, stage 0 is no prolapse, stage 1 means the leading edge is more than 1 cm above the hymen, stage 2 means it is within 1 cm above or below the hymen, stage 3 means it extends more than 1 cm beyond the hymen but less than total vaginal length minus 2 cm, and stage 4 is complete eversion.

Why is "Stage 1" not the answer?

Stage 1 is more than 1 cm above the hymen.

Why is "Stage 4" not the answer?

Stage 4 requires protrusion of at least total vaginal length minus 2 cm.

Why is "Stage 2" not the answer?

Stage 2 is limited to within 1 cm of the hymen.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Genital prolapse: POP-Q staging in OBG. Here the prolapse extends 3 cm beyond the hymen and is under 7 cm, so it is stage 3.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Genital prolapse: POP-Q staging?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.