Current Issues in Maternal and Child Health Related

Review Current Issues in Maternal and Child Health related questions and content

What hormonal medication can be used in a premenopausal patient without the concurrent use of ovarian suppression?

  • A. letrozole (Femara)
  • B. exemestane (Aromasin)
  • C. elacestrant (Orserdu)
  • D. tamoxifen (Soltamox)
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Tamoxifen is a hormonal medication that can be used in premenopausal patients without the concurrent use of ovarian suppression. It is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that acts by blocking estrogen receptors in breast tissue, thereby inhibiting the growth of hormone-sensitive breast cancer cells. Tamoxifen is commonly prescribed for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Unlike aromatase inhibitors (e.g., letrozole and exemestane) which require ovarian suppression in premenopausal patients, tamoxifen can be used as monotherapy in premenopausal patients due to its different mechanism of action. Elacestrant is a selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) and not commonly used in clinical practice for this indication.