Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Practice Exam

Which investigation is typically conducted for endometritis?

1. Pap smear

2. High vaginal swab

3. Transvaginal ultrasound

4. Endometrial biopsy

The correct answer is: High vaginal swab

For the investigation of endometritis, a high vaginal swab is typically conducted because it helps identify any infectious agents that may be causing the condition. This type of swab samples secretions from the vaginal canal and can be tested for organisms such as bacteria or fungi, which are often present in cases of endometritis. Since this condition is frequently associated with infections, obtaining a high vaginal swab is a practical approach to determine the microbiological cause. While a Pap smear is primarily used for cervical screening and detecting cervical cancer, it does not provide information about the endometrium. Transvaginal ultrasound can assess structural abnormalities of the uterus and can sometimes provide indirect evidence of endometritis through findings like thickening of the endometrium or fluid collections but does not confirm the diagnosis itself. An endometrial biopsy may be performed to obtain a tissue sample for histological analysis, which can help confirm endometrial pathology, but it is more invasive and not the initial step in investigating suspected endometritis.