American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Practice Exam 2026 - Free ABFM Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct choice, which involves the assessment of bone health in patients suspected of having the female athlete triad, is the bone mineral density test. This triad includes low energy availability (often due to disordered eating), menstrual dysfunction, and decreased bone mineral density, which can lead to an increased risk of stress fractures and osteoporosis.

The bone mineral density test (often performed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, or DXA) is specifically designed to measure the density of minerals (mainly calcium) in bones. Low bone mineral density is a key indicator of osteoporosis and an essential aspect to evaluate in females who may be at risk due to energy deficiency and disrupted menstruation.

While thyroid function, osteocalcin levels, and vitamin D levels can provide useful information regarding overall metabolic health and bone metabolism, they are not direct measures of bone density. For instance, thyroid function tests evaluate hormone levels that may contribute to imbalances but do not assess bone density directly. Similarly, osteocalcin is a marker of bone turnover and vitamin D levels impact bone health, but these tests do not specifically quantify bone mineral density. Therefore, when assessing a patient suspected of having the female athlete triad, the bone mineral density test is specifically required to evaluate the health