What characterizes the hormonal changes during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle?

During the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, which occurs after ovulation and before the start of menstruation, there is a significant increase in progesterone levels. This occurs because the corpus luteum, which forms from the remnants of the follicle after it releases an egg, primarily secretes progesterone. This hormone plays a crucial role in preparing the uterine lining for a potential implantation of an embryo, making it essential for a successful pregnancy.

While there is typically a peak in estrogen levels just before ovulation during the follicular phase, progesterone takes precedence during the luteal phase. The elevated progesterone helps maintain the uterine lining, and if pregnancy does not occur, progesterone levels will eventually decline, leading to the shedding of the uterine lining, which marks the onset of menstruation.

In the context of the other options, peak levels of estrogen typically occur just before ovulation, and luteinizing hormone levels drop after the LH surge that triggers ovulation. Likewise, testosterone levels remain relatively stable and are not characteristically elevated during the luteal phase in relation to the other hormones involved in the menstrual cycle.