If a woman has reached or passed her due date (the date that a woman is expected to give birth), her obstetrician may inject her with hormones to help initiate labor. Which of the following hormones would assist the most in the initiation of labor?
A)HCG
B)FSH
C)progesterone
D)oxytocin

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Oxytocin is the hormone that stimulates uterine contractions during labor and helps initiate labor. It is a natural hormone produced by the pituitary gland, but synthetic forms can be administered to induce or augment labor. HCG (A) is a hormone produced during pregnancy, but does not play a role in initiating labor. FSH (B) is a hormone involved in the menstrual cycle and ovulation, but is not directly involved in labor. Progesterone (C) is a hormone that helps maintain the lining of the uterus during pregnancy and is important for fetal development, but it actually inhibits uterine contractions and would not assist in initiating labor.

If a Woman Has Reached or Passed Her Due Date