Which hormone rise is associated with the basal body temperature increase during the ovulatory period?

Which hormone rise is associated with the basal body temperature increase during the ovulatory period?

• A. Progesterone
• B. Estrogen
• C. LH
• D. FSH

Answer: (A)

The rise in basal body temperature after ovulation is caused by progesterone. After the mature follicle releases an egg, the corpus luteum forms and secretes progesterone. This hormone acts on the hypothalamic thermoregulation center to raise the body’s temperature set point slightly, producing a detectable increase in basal body temperature (about 0.4–0.6°C, or roughly 0.7–1.0°F). This elevated temperature typically lasts through the luteal phase as long as progesterone remains high and falls if pregnancy does not occur, leading to menses and a return to baseline temperature. Estrogen peaks before ovulation but does not cause a sustained basal body temperature rise. LH surge triggers ovulation, and FSH promotes follicle development, but neither directly causes the temperature increase observed in the luteal phase.

The rise in basal body temperature after ovulation is caused by progesterone. After the mature follicle releases an egg, the corpus luteum forms and secretes progesterone. This hormone acts on the hypothalamic thermoregulation center to raise the body’s temperature set point slightly, producing a detectable increase in basal body temperature (about 0.4–0.6°C, or roughly 0.7–1.0°F). This elevated temperature typically lasts through the luteal phase as long as progesterone remains high and falls if pregnancy does not occur, leading to menses and a return to baseline temperature.

Estrogen peaks before ovulation but does not cause a sustained basal body temperature rise. LH surge triggers ovulation, and FSH promotes follicle development, but neither directly causes the temperature increase observed in the luteal phase.