The Proliferative Phase of the Uterine Cycle

Question

The proliferative phase of the uterine cycle
A) immediately precedes the uterine secretory phase.
B) is caused primarily by hCG.
C) corresponds hormonally to the ovarian luteal phase.
D) is the stage during which implantation occurs.

Accepted Answer

The proliferative phase of the uterine cycle is the stage during which the endometrial lining of the uterus thickens and prepares for potential implantation of a fertilized egg. It immediately precedes the uterine secretory phase, during which the endometrium becomes even thicker and more vascular. Hormonally, the proliferative phase corresponds to the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle, during which rising levels of estrogen cause the endometrium to grow and thicken. hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is primarily involved in supporting the early stages of pregnancy, and implantation typically occurs during the secretory phase of the uterine cycle.