Gonadal hormones (estrogens, progestins) — MCQs

A 58-year-old obese woman presents with painless postmenopausal bleeding for the past 5 days. A recent endometrial biopsy confirmed endometrial cancer, and the patient is scheduled for total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Past medical history is significant for stress incontinence and diabetes mellitus type 2. Menarche was at age 11 and menopause was at age 55. The patient has 4 healthy children from uncomplicated pregnancies, who were all formula fed. Current medications are topical estrogen and metformin. Family history is significant for breast cancer in her grandmother at age 80. Which of the following aspects of this patient’s history is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer?

A 19-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a delayed menstrual period. She has had regular menses since menarche at age 11. Her last menstrual period was 7 weeks ago. She is sexually active with two male partners. A urine pregnancy test is positive. An ultrasound of the pelvis shows a viable intrauterine pregnancy with an estimated gestational age of 6 weeks and 5 days. She does not wish to continue with the pregnancy. After carefully weighing the options with her physician, she is prescribed two medications, one of which is mifepristone. Which of the following is this drug's primary mechanism of action?

A 30-year-old woman presents to a medical clinic for a routine check-up. She gained about 5 kg (11 lb) since the last time she weighed herself 3 months ago. She also complains of constipation and sensitivity to cold. She also noticed her hair appears to be thinning. The patient started to use combined oral contraceptives a few months ago and she is compliant. On physical examination, the temperature is 37.0°C (98.6°F), the blood pressure is 110/70 mm Hg, the pulse is 65/min, and the respiratory rate is 14/min. The laboratory results are as follows: Thyroxine (T4), total 25 ug/dL Thyroxine (T4), free 0.8 ng/dL TSH 0.2 mU/L Which of the following is the main mechanism of action of the drug that caused her signs and symptoms?

A researcher is studying physiologic and hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. Specifically, they examine the behavior of progesterone over the course of the menstrual cycle and find that it normally decreases over time; however, during pregnancy this decrease does not occur in the usual time frame. The researcher identifies a circulating factor that appears to be responsible for this difference in progesterone behavior. In order to further examine this factor, the researcher denatures the circulating factor and examines the sizes of its components on a western blot as compared to several other hormones. One of the bands the researcher identifies in this circulating factor is identical to that of another known hormone with which of the following sites of action?

A 51-year-old woman presents to the primary care clinic complaining of trouble sleeping. She reports that she has episodes of "overheating" and "sweating" during the day and at night. The nightly episodes keep her from staying asleep. She also explains how embarrassing it is when she suddenly becomes hot and flushed during work meetings. The patient becomes visibly upset and states that she is worried about her marriage as well. She says she has been fighting with her husband about not going out because she is "too tired." They have not been able to have sex the past several months because "it hurts." Labs are drawn, as shown below: Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH): 62 mIU/mL Estradiol: 34 pg/mL Progesterone: 0.1 ng/mL Luteinizing hormone (LH): 46 mIU/mL Free testosterone: 2.1 ng/dL Which of the following contributes most to the production of estrogen in this patient?

A 31-year-old woman makes an appointment with a fertility specialist because she has not been able to conceive despite trying for over a year with her husband. She is concerned because her husband has 2 children from a previous marriage whereas she has no children. After obtaining a detailed history as well as lab tests, the specialist prescribes a certain drug. Interestingly, this drug is able to stimulate receptors in the presence of low hormone levels and inhibit the same receptors in the presence of high hormone levels. The drug that is most likely being prescribed in this case is associated with which of the following adverse events?

A 69-year-old woman comes to the clinic for an annual well exam. She reports no significant changes to her health except for an arm fracture 3 weeks ago while she was lifting some heavy bags. Her diabetes is well controlled with metformin. She reports some vaginal dryness that she manages with adequate lubrication. She denies any weight changes, fevers, chills, palpitations, nausea/vomiting, incontinence, or bowel changes. A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan was done and demonstrated a T-score of -2.7. She was subsequently prescribed a selective estrogen receptor modulator, in addition to vitamin and weight-bearing exercises, for the management of her symptoms. What is the mechanism of action of the prescribed medication?

A 40-year-old man presents with a painless firm mass in the right breast. Examination shows retraction of the nipple and the skin is fixed to the underlying mass. The axillary nodes are palpable. Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the above condition?

A 21-year-old G2P1 woman presents to the clinic and is curious about contraception immediately after her baby is born. She is anxious about taking care of one child and does not believe that she can handle the responsibility of caring for another. She has no other questions or complaints today. Her past medical history consists of generalized anxiety disorder, antithrombin deficiency, and chronic deep vein thrombosis. She has been hospitalized for acute on chronic deep vein thrombosis. Her only medication is buspirone. Her blood pressure is 119/78 mm Hg and the heart rate is 78/min. BMI of the patient is 32 kg/m2. On physical examination, her fundal height is 21 cm from pubic symphysis. No ovarian masses are palpated during the bimanual examination. Ultrasound exhibits a monoamniotic, monochorionic fetus. Which of the following forms of contraception would be the most detrimental given her risk factors?

A 57-year-old woman comes to the physician for evaluation of a lump in the right breast that she first noticed a week ago. Biopsy of the mass confirms a diagnosis of a pleomorphic lobular carcinoma-in-situ that is estrogen receptor-positive. The patient undergoes lumpectomy, and treatment with tamoxifen is initiated. Which of the following conditions is most likely to occur as a result of tamoxifen therapy?