Question

Corpus luteum in pregnancy has a long life. However, if fertilisation does not takes place it remains active for 10-12 days, why?

Answer 1

dear student,

when fertilisation occurs, it is followed by implantation and placenta formation.

placenta acts a temporary endocrine organ as it releases various hormones. A hormone called - Human chorionic gonadotropin (hcg), released by the placenta, signals the corpus luteum to continue the release of progesterone to sustain pregnancy. This whole process takes nearly 12 days. In absence of pregnancy there is no hcg so corpus luteum regresses to form corpus albicans.

Regards