Final answer:
The statement is false as increased estrogen levels near term prepare the myometrium for contractions, rather than suppressing them. The rising estrogen levels, particularly in the eighth month of pregnancy, coupled with decreased progesterone, promote the onset of true labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that an increase in estrogen levels near term suppresses myometrial contractions is false. Throughout most of the pregnancy, progesterone is the hormone that inhibits uterine contractions to protect the fetus from preterm birth. However, as pregnancy approaches term, there is a shift in the hormonal balance. Estrogen levels continue to rise, and progesterone levels plateau and then decrease. This change increases the ratio of estrogen to progesterone, which makes the myometrium more sensitive to stimuli that promote contractions. Especially in the eighth month of pregnancy, fetal cortisol levels rise, boosting estrogen secretion by the placenta and reducing the calming effect of progesterone on the uterus. This hormonal shift facilitates the initiation of true labor and the occurrence of uterine contractions.