Which hormone stops ovulation during pregnancy?

Which hormone stops ovulation during pregnancy?

• A. Estrogen
• B. Progesterone
• C. Testosterone
• D. FSH

Answer: (B)

Progesterone is the hormone that stops ovulation during pregnancy. It creates a strong negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary, dampening GnRH pulses and lowering the release of FSH and LH. With low FSH/LH, follicles don’t mature to release an egg, so ovulation doesn’t occur. Early in pregnancy the corpus luteum makes progesterone to support the uterine lining, and later the placenta maintains progesterone levels to sustain the pregnancy. Estrogen supports the uterine lining as well, but the key action preventing ovulation is progesterone’s suppression of the gonadotropins. Testosterone isn’t involved in this process, and FSH would actually promote follicle development rather than prevent it.

Progesterone is the hormone that stops ovulation during pregnancy. It creates a strong negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary, dampening GnRH pulses and lowering the release of FSH and LH. With low FSH/LH, follicles don’t mature to release an egg, so ovulation doesn’t occur. Early in pregnancy the corpus luteum makes progesterone to support the uterine lining, and later the placenta maintains progesterone levels to sustain the pregnancy. Estrogen supports the uterine lining as well, but the key action preventing ovulation is progesterone’s suppression of the gonadotropins. Testosterone isn’t involved in this process, and FSH would actually promote follicle development rather than prevent it.