Which reproductive hormone is primarily responsible for ovulation and support of the corpus luteum in females?

• A. Luteinizing hormone (LH)
• B. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
• C. Estrogen
• D. Progesterone

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that a surge of luteinizing hormone drives both the release of the egg and the transformation of the follicle into the corpus luteum. Right around mid-cycle, LH from the anterior pituitary surges, triggering ovulation—the follicle ruptures and the oocyte is released. That same LH signal then promotes luteinization, turning the ruptured follicle into the corpus luteum, which begins producing progesterone (with some estrogen) to support the uterine lining for a possible pregnancy. FSH mainly helps with follicle growth earlier in the cycle rather than triggering ovulation, while estrogen and progesterone regulate the endometrium but do not initiate the ovulatory event.