Ovulation
Explanation:
In women, luteinizing hormone carries out different roles in the two halves of the menstrual cycle
- In week one to two of the cycle, luteinizing hormone is required to stimulate the ovarian follicles in the ovary to produce the female sex hormone, oestradiol
- Around day 14 of the cycle, a surge in luteinizing hormone levels causes the ovarian follicle to tear and release a mature oocyte (egg) from the ovary, a process called ovulation
- For the remainder of the cycle (weeks three to four), the remnants of the ovarian follicle forms a corpus luteum
- Luteinizing hormone stimulates the corpus luteum to produce progesterone, which is required to support the early stages of pregnancy, if fertilization occurs
