the follicle forms a corpus luteum and starts to produce progesterone - it also produces androgens and oestrogens
the production of progesterone distinguishes the luteal phase from the follicular phase
the massive rise in levels of progesterone result in:
preparation of the endometrium for implantation
suppression in growth of the new follicles past the preantral stage
the corpus luteum will regress after 9-11 days unless pregnancy occurs. The production of steroids from the corpus luteum can be maintained (until the ninth or tenth week of gestation) via the production of human chorionic gonadotrophin from the implanting pregnancy. At this stage the production of steroids by the placenta has become well established.
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