Which hormone is primarily produced by the ovaries during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle?

• A. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
• B. Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
• C. Estrogen
• D. Progesterone

Answer: (D)

During the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, the ovaries primarily produce progesterone. This phase follows ovulation and is characterized by the transformation of the ruptured follicle into the corpus luteum, which has the crucial role of producing progesterone.

Progesterone is essential for preparing the endometrium (the uterine lining) for a potential implantation of a fertilized egg. It maintains the endometrial lining and supports early pregnancy if conception occurs. If fertilization does not take place, progesterone levels decrease, leading to menstruation as the uterine lining sheds.

The other hormones listed have distinct roles at different points in the cycle. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are produced by the anterior pituitary gland and are critical earlier in the menstrual cycle—FSH for stimulating follicle growth and LH for triggering ovulation. Estrogen, while also produced during the luteal phase, is not the primary hormone in this phase as progesterone takes prominence in the latter part of the cycle.