Infertility and contraception: Standard Days Method: 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.

Try it

OBG · Infertility and contraception: Standard Days Method

Sample item

A woman with regular cycles of 26 to 32 days chooses a fertility-awareness method using a string of coloured beads. On which cycle days should she avoid unprotected intercourse?

ADays 12 to 16BDays 1 to 7CDays 20 to 28DDays 8 to 19

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Days 8 to 19

The Standard Days Method identifies days 8 to 19 as the fertile window for women with cycles of 26 to 32 days. The beads mark the days to avoid or to use a barrier. The method is unreliable if cycles fall outside this range.

Option by option

A. Days 12 to 16
Days 12 to 16 are too narrow to allow for cycle variation and sperm survival.
B. Days 1 to 7
Days 1 to 7 are before the fertile window.
C. Days 20 to 28
Days 20 to 28 are after ovulation in these cycles.
D. Days 8 to 19 (correct)
Correct. Days 8 to 19 are the fertile window for this method.

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.

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is D, Days 8 to 19. The Standard Days Method identifies days 8 to 19 as the fertile window for women with cycles of 26 to 32 days.

Why is "Days 12 to 16" not the answer?

Days 12 to 16 are too narrow to allow for cycle variation and sperm survival.

Why is "Days 1 to 7" not the answer?

Days 1 to 7 are before the fertile window.

Why is "Days 20 to 28" not the answer?

Days 20 to 28 are after ovulation in these cycles.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infertility and contraception: Standard Days Method in OBG. The beads mark the days to avoid or to use a barrier. The method is unreliable if cycles fall outside this range.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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 Infertility and contraception: Standard Days Method?

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.