North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) Practice Exam

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What hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland is vital for luteal function in the first two weeks of pregnancy?

Estrogen
Testosterone
Luteinizing hormone
Follicle-stimulating hormone

The correct answer is: Luteinizing hormone

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is crucial for maintaining luteal function during the early stages of pregnancy, particularly within the first two weeks after conception. LH is produced by the anterior pituitary gland and plays a significant role in the menstrual cycle and ovulation. During the luteal phase, LH stimulates the corpus luteum, which is responsible for producing progesterone. Progesterone is essential for preparing the uterine lining for a potential implantation of a fertilized egg. If pregnancy occurs, LH helps to maintain the corpus luteum, allowing it to continue producing progesterone until the placenta is fully formed and can take over hormone production. This hormonal support is vital for sustaining the early stages of pregnancy and ensuring a suitable environment for the embryo. In contrast, while estrogen, testosterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) have important roles in the reproductive cycle, they do not specifically carry out the function of maintaining the luteal phase immediately after fertilization. Therefore, luteinizing hormone's active role in supporting the corpus luteum and its subsequent progesterone production makes it the correct answer in this context.