Question

The progesterone level rises in which phase of menstrual cycle?
A. Menstrual phase
B. Proliferative phase
C. Secretory phase
D. Maturation phase

Answer 1

Hint: The female reproductive system is responsible for production of female eggs or the ova. It also produces female sex hormones that are required for maintaining the reproductive cycles. It consists of the ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina and the external genitalia.

Complete answer:
The female reproductive system undergoes regular changes which enables the body to prepare for the child bearing process. The reproductive cycle in females is necessary for the production of oocytes or ova and preparing the uterus for the pregnancy. The reproductive cycle takes place in the ovary and the uterus. The ovarian cycle or the menstrual phase is divided into three phases which are the follicular phase, proliferative phase and luteal phase or the secretory phase.

The menstrual cycle results in the thickening of the uterus lining and growth of the produced egg. If the egg is not fertilized, the lining disintegrates and is shed in the form of menstrual bleeding. The female hormones induce several changes due to their changing levels and affect the processes of the reproductive cycle.

The two hormones that governs the different processes of the reproductive cycles are oestrogen and progesterone.

Progesterone is a group of steroid hormones and are involved in the menstrual cycle. The main action of progesterone occurs during the luteal phase or secretory phase as it converts the endometrium into preparation for implantation. The other effects of progesterone are that it affects the vaginal epithelium and the cervical mucus to become thicker and it becomes impenetrable for the sperm. In case of absence of fertilization or when no pregnancy occurs, the levels of progesterone decreases considerably and finally, it leads to menstrual cycle. This occurs due to the reason that in absence of pregnancy, the corpus luteum fails to develop and as a result the levels of progesterone falls and it leads to the next part of the reproductive cycle that is the menstrual cycle.

Hence, The correct answer is option (C).

Note: The reproductive process in females is dependent on the levels of the oestrogen and progesterone. The progesterone hormone is an important hormone which facilitates in the preparation of pregnancy. The hormone stimulates the development and thickening of the uterus membrane lining. During the secretory phase, the levels of progesterone rises and reaches a peak. As the phase ends, the levels of progesterone fall and it causes the corpus luteum to regress and disintegrate the endometrium layer of the uterus.