Foul smelling lochia postpartum is most associated with which condition?

• A. Urinary tract infection
• B. Endometritis
• C. Mastitis
• D. Postpartum hemorrhage

Answer: (B)

Foul smelling lochia after delivery points to an infection of the uterine lining, called endometritis. Lochia is the normal postpartum vaginal discharge, but when bacteria invade the endometrium, the discharge often develops a strong, unpleasant odor. This infection commonly presents with fever and uterine tenderness in addition to the foul odor, and risk factors include cesarean birth or prolonged labor, though it can occur after vaginal delivery as well.

Urinary tract infection would cause urinary symptoms like painful urination or frequency, not a foul-smelling discharge from the uterus. Mastitis involves breast symptoms, such as localized breast tenderness or redness, not changes in vaginal discharge. Postpartum hemorrhage involves heavy vaginal bleeding due to uterine atony or retained placenta, rather than an infected, foul-smelling lochia.