APEA Women's Health Exam –Most Tested Questions with Verified
Answers & Bold Italic Rationales | Latest Updated Study Guide
This comprehensive question bank is designed for candidates preparing for the
APEA Women's Health Examination. It delivers unique, high-yield questions with
verified answers, bold italic rationales, and zero repeated or rephrased items. The
content spans the full APEA Women's Health Core Syllabus, including breast
cancer risk assessment, breast mass evaluation and diagnostic imaging,
abnormal uterine bleeding definitions and classifications, and the FIGO PALM-
COEIN system
SECTION 1: BREAST CANCER RISK FACTORS (Q1–Q75)
Q1. Which of the following is considered the single greatest risk factor for
developing breast cancer?
A) Family history of breast cancer
B) Advancing age
C) Early menarche
D) Obesity
Correct Answer: B) Advancing age
,Rationale: Besides female sex, advancing age is the biggest risk factor for breast
cancer. Risk increases significantly after age 50, with most breast cancers
diagnosed in women over 60.
Q2. A woman has a first-degree relative with breast cancer. How does this affect
her lifetime risk?
A) It doubles her risk compared to the general population
B) It has no effect on risk
C) It increases her risk by 10%
D) It decreases her risk due to genetic immunity
Correct Answer: A) It doubles her risk compared to the general population
Rationale: Having a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) with breast
cancer approximately doubles a woman's risk. The risk is higher if the relative
was diagnosed before menopause or if multiple relatives are affected.
Q3. Which of the following reproductive factors increases breast cancer risk?
A) Late menarche (after age 14)
B) Early menopause (before age 45)
C) Early menarche (before age 12)
D) High parity (five or more births)
Correct Answer: C) Early menarche (before age 12)
,Rationale: Early menarche (before age 12) increases breast cancer risk due to
longer lifetime exposure to estrogen. Late menarche, early menopause, and high
parity are protective factors.
Q4. A woman who had her first child after age 30 has what type of breast cancer
risk?
A) Increased risk compared to women who had children before age 20
B) Decreased risk compared to nulliparous women
C) No change in risk
D) Decreased risk compared to women who had children before age 25
Correct Answer: A) Increased risk compared to women who had children
before age 20
Rationale: Late age at first birth (after age 30) increases breast cancer risk
compared to women who had their first child before age 20. Nulliparity (never
having children) also increases risk.
Q5. How does obesity affect breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women?
A) It decreases risk due to lower estrogen levels
B) It increases risk due to peripheral estrogen production in adipose tissue
C) It has no effect on risk
D) It only affects risk in premenopausal women
Correct Answer: B) It increases risk due to peripheral estrogen production
in adipose tissue
, Rationale: In postmenopausal women, obesity increases breast cancer risk
because adipose tissue converts androgens to estrogen, raising circulating
estrogen levels.
Q6. What is the lifetime risk of breast cancer for a woman in the United States?
A) 1 in 4
B) 1 in 8
C) 1 in 15
D) 1 in 25
Correct Answer: B) 1 in 8
Rationale: Approximately 1 in 8 women (about 13%) in the United States will
develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime.
Q7. Which of the following is a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer?
A) Age
B) Genetic mutation
C) Obesity
D) Family history
Correct Answer: C) Obesity
Rationale: Obesity is a modifiable risk factor. Age, genetic mutations (BRCA), and
family history are non-modifiable risk factors.
Answers & Bold Italic Rationales | Latest Updated Study Guide
This comprehensive question bank is designed for candidates preparing for the
APEA Women's Health Examination. It delivers unique, high-yield questions with
verified answers, bold italic rationales, and zero repeated or rephrased items. The
content spans the full APEA Women's Health Core Syllabus, including breast
cancer risk assessment, breast mass evaluation and diagnostic imaging,
abnormal uterine bleeding definitions and classifications, and the FIGO PALM-
COEIN system
SECTION 1: BREAST CANCER RISK FACTORS (Q1–Q75)
Q1. Which of the following is considered the single greatest risk factor for
developing breast cancer?
A) Family history of breast cancer
B) Advancing age
C) Early menarche
D) Obesity
Correct Answer: B) Advancing age
,Rationale: Besides female sex, advancing age is the biggest risk factor for breast
cancer. Risk increases significantly after age 50, with most breast cancers
diagnosed in women over 60.
Q2. A woman has a first-degree relative with breast cancer. How does this affect
her lifetime risk?
A) It doubles her risk compared to the general population
B) It has no effect on risk
C) It increases her risk by 10%
D) It decreases her risk due to genetic immunity
Correct Answer: A) It doubles her risk compared to the general population
Rationale: Having a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) with breast
cancer approximately doubles a woman's risk. The risk is higher if the relative
was diagnosed before menopause or if multiple relatives are affected.
Q3. Which of the following reproductive factors increases breast cancer risk?
A) Late menarche (after age 14)
B) Early menopause (before age 45)
C) Early menarche (before age 12)
D) High parity (five or more births)
Correct Answer: C) Early menarche (before age 12)
,Rationale: Early menarche (before age 12) increases breast cancer risk due to
longer lifetime exposure to estrogen. Late menarche, early menopause, and high
parity are protective factors.
Q4. A woman who had her first child after age 30 has what type of breast cancer
risk?
A) Increased risk compared to women who had children before age 20
B) Decreased risk compared to nulliparous women
C) No change in risk
D) Decreased risk compared to women who had children before age 25
Correct Answer: A) Increased risk compared to women who had children
before age 20
Rationale: Late age at first birth (after age 30) increases breast cancer risk
compared to women who had their first child before age 20. Nulliparity (never
having children) also increases risk.
Q5. How does obesity affect breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women?
A) It decreases risk due to lower estrogen levels
B) It increases risk due to peripheral estrogen production in adipose tissue
C) It has no effect on risk
D) It only affects risk in premenopausal women
Correct Answer: B) It increases risk due to peripheral estrogen production
in adipose tissue
, Rationale: In postmenopausal women, obesity increases breast cancer risk
because adipose tissue converts androgens to estrogen, raising circulating
estrogen levels.
Q6. What is the lifetime risk of breast cancer for a woman in the United States?
A) 1 in 4
B) 1 in 8
C) 1 in 15
D) 1 in 25
Correct Answer: B) 1 in 8
Rationale: Approximately 1 in 8 women (about 13%) in the United States will
develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime.
Q7. Which of the following is a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer?
A) Age
B) Genetic mutation
C) Obesity
D) Family history
Correct Answer: C) Obesity
Rationale: Obesity is a modifiable risk factor. Age, genetic mutations (BRCA), and
family history are non-modifiable risk factors.
