Final answer:
The protein in cervical mucus that aids sperm movement during ovulation is called mucin. Estrogen causes the cervix to secrete this thinner mucus, whereas progesterone prepares the body for potential pregnancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The protein that changes during ovulation to facilitate the movement of sperm into the uterus, present in cervical mucus, is called c) Mucin.
Mucous in the cervix contains mucin, which changes during ovulation to facilitate the movement of sperm.
The proliferative phase is a key stage in the uterine cycle, occurring after menstruation and before ovulation. During this phase, the hormone estrogen plays a crucial role. It is secreted by maturing ovarian follicles and has multiple functions. Not only does estrogen cause the lining of the uterus to grow, but it also influences the cervix to secrete larger quantities of thinner mucus. It is this mucin in the cervical mucus that undergoes a transformation during ovulation, becoming less viscous to aid the journey of sperm through the cervix and into the uterus.
The cervix produces mucus secretions under the influence of high plasma estrogen concentrations, which become thin and stringy, and thereby support sperm motility. This facilitates the potential for fertilization by allowing sperm to reach the egg more efficiently. The phase following ovulation is dominated by progesterone, which prepares the body for a potential pregnancy. However, the specific protein associated with the alteration of cervical mucus consistency during ovulation is mucin.