Which hormone prepares and supports the uterus for pregnancy?

Progesterone is the hormone that plays a crucial role in preparing and supporting the uterus for pregnancy. After ovulation, the ovaries produce progesterone, which leads to several important changes in the uterine lining (endometrium). This hormone thickens the endometrial lining and increases its blood supply, creating an optimal environment for a fertilized egg to implant and grow. Additionally, progesterone helps to maintain the uterine environment during the early stages of pregnancy by preventing contractions that could lead to the expulsion of the developing embryo.

The other hormones listed, while important in the reproductive process, do not specifically prepare the uterus for pregnancy in the same way. Follicle-stimulating hormone primarily stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles. Prolactin is primarily involved in milk production after childbirth, and luteinizing hormone plays a role in triggering ovulation and supporting the formation of the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone, but it isn’t directly responsible for preparing the uterine lining. Thus, progesterone is key in establishing and maintaining a suitable uterine environment for pregnancy.