What hormone stimulates the development of the endometrium?

The hormone that primarily stimulates the development of the endometrium is progesterone. During the menstrual cycle, after ovulation, progesterone is secreted by the corpus luteum. It plays a crucial role in preparing the endometrial lining for potential implantation of a fertilized egg. This preparation involves making the endometrium thicker and more vascular, providing a suitable environment for a developing embryo. If fertilization does not occur, progesterone levels drop, leading to the shedding of the endometrium during menstruation.

While estrogen also plays a role in the menstrual cycle and the thickening of the endometrium during the follicular phase, it is progesterone that is specifically responsible for the later stages of endometrial development necessary for implantation. Other hormones listed, such as testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone, have different functions in the reproductive process and do not directly stimulate the development of the endometrium.