North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) Practice Exam

Which hormone works to ensure the continued production of estrogen and progesterone during early pregnancy?

1. Human placental lactogen

2. Follicle-stimulating hormone

3. Human chorionic gonadotropin

4. Luteinizing hormone

The correct answer is: Human chorionic gonadotropin

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is the hormone responsible for ensuring the continued production of estrogen and progesterone during early pregnancy. This hormone is produced by the developing placenta shortly after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus. In the initial weeks of pregnancy, hCG serves a crucial role by stimulating the corpus luteum, which is the structure that forms from the follicle after ovulation. The corpus luteum is essential for producing progesterone and some estrogen, which are vital for maintaining the uterine lining and supporting the early stages of pregnancy. Without hCG, the corpus luteum would eventually degenerate, leading to a decline in hormone levels and potentially resulting in pregnancy loss. In summary, hCG's primary function in early pregnancy is to signal the ovaries to continue producing the necessary hormones, thereby promoting a supportive environment for the developing embryo.