Week 3: Luteal Phase

Question 1

What is the goal of the follicular phase

Answer 1

Stimulate the growth of a follicle in order to cause the ovulation of an egg

Question 2

What is the goal of the luteal phase?

Answer 2

To prepare the endometrium for implantation of a fertilized egg

Question 3

What happens to the follicle after ovulation?

Answer 3

After ovulation, FSH and LH are really high which induce the empty follicle to form the corpus luteum (yellow body in Latin)

Since this is no longer a follicle, it reduces the amount of estrogen it makes while still making estrogen, progesterone becomes its primary product.

At this stage, the embryo is called a blastocyst if fertilization occurred

Progesterone (pro-gestation hormone) stimulates the uterine lining for implantation by

• increasing blood flow by inducing growth of spiral arteries in the endometrium
• Spiral arteries allow the embryo to have good access to nutrients from the mother’s blood stream
• increases uterine secretions from special glands which secretions are important for embryo nourishment
• decreases contractility of uterine smooth muscle to prevent embryo disturbing