Sexual offences: sperm persistence: practice question

A Forensic Medicine 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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Forensic Medicine · Sexual offences: sperm persistence

Sample item

A woman presents three days after an alleged assault. Which site of the genital tract is most likely to still contain detectable sperm?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. The endocervical canal

Sperm are protected in the cervical mucus and persist longest in the endocervical canal, where they may be found after several days. Elsewhere in the vagina they decline over hours to a day or two because of drainage, motility loss and acidity. A cervical sample is therefore valuable in delayed presentation.

Option by option

  • A. The urethral meatus

    The urethral meatus does not retain sperm for days.

  • B. The perineum

    Sperm on the perineum are lost quickly by washing or wiping.

  • C. The endocervical canal (correct)

    Correct. The cervical canal is the site of the longest sperm survival.

  • D. The vaginal introitus

    The introitus is cleared early by washing and drainage.

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 Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is C, The endocervical canal. Sperm are protected in the cervical mucus and persist longest in the endocervical canal, where they may be found after several days.

Why is "The urethral meatus" not the answer?

The urethral meatus does not retain sperm for days.

Why is "The perineum" not the answer?

Sperm on the perineum are lost quickly by washing or wiping.

Why is "The vaginal introitus" not the answer?

The introitus is cleared early by washing and drainage.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Sexual offences: sperm persistence in Forensic Medicine. Elsewhere in the vagina they decline over hours to a day or two because of drainage, motility loss and acidity. A cervical sample is therefore valuable in delayed presentation.

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 Sexual offences: sperm persistence?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine 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.