Final answer:
The corpus luteum produces progesterone, which is essential for regulating the menstrual cycle and maintaining the uterine lining for a potential pregnancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The corpus luteum is an important structure in the female reproductive cycle that forms in the ovary after an ovarian follicle has released an egg during ovulation. One of its primary functions is to produce specific hormones that are critical for maintaining pregnancy if fertilization occurs. The correct answer to which hormone the corpus luteum produces is progesterone. Progesterone plays a crucial role in regulating the menstrual cycle and supporting early stages of pregnancy by maintaining the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus. Moreover, progesterone inhibits the production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) to prevent the maturation of additional ovarian follicles during the cycle.