Labour and delivery: incoordinate uterine action: 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 · Labour and delivery: incoordinate uterine action

Sample item

A primigravida at term in early labour has severe continuous pain with irregular contractions and a raised resting uterine tone. The cervix has stayed 2 cm dilated over 6 hours. What is the cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Incoordinate (hypertonic) uterine action

Incoordinate uterine action produces painful, irregular contractions with high resting tone and poor dilatation. It is treated with analgesia, rest and sometimes epidural, then oxytocin once normal rhythm is restored. Hypotonic inertia gives weak, infrequent and less painful contractions.

Option by option

  • A. Hypotonic uterine inertia

    Hypotonic inertia has weak contractions with low tone.

  • B. Incoordinate (hypertonic) uterine action (correct)

    Correct. High resting tone and irregular painful contractions without progress define it.

  • C. Normal latent phase

    A normal latent phase does not cause this intense, continuous pain.

  • D. Obstructed labour with a contracted pelvis

    Obstructed labour shows a Bandl ring and a head that does not descend despite strong contractions.

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.

More OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is B, Incoordinate (hypertonic) uterine action. Incoordinate uterine action produces painful, irregular contractions with high resting tone and poor dilatation.

Why is "Hypotonic uterine inertia" not the answer?

Hypotonic inertia has weak contractions with low tone.

Why is "Normal latent phase" not the answer?

A normal latent phase does not cause this intense, continuous pain.

Why is "Obstructed labour with a contracted pelvis" not the answer?

Obstructed labour shows a Bandl ring and a head that does not descend despite strong contractions.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Labour and delivery: incoordinate uterine action in OBG. It is treated with analgesia, rest and sometimes epidural, then oxytocin once normal rhythm is restored. Hypotonic inertia gives weak, infrequent and less painful contractions.

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 Labour and delivery: incoordinate uterine action?

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.