Which two hormones decrease drastically in the first days postpartum?

• A. Prolactin and Oxytocin
• B. Testosterone and Estrogen
• C. FSH and LH
• D. Estrogen and Progesterone

Answer: (D)

Right after delivery, the placenta is gone, so the main sources of estrogen and progesterone disappear. This causes both hormones to fall very quickly in the first days postpartum. The sharp drop removes the inhibition they exert on lactation, allowing prolactin to drive milk production and helping the uterus begin to involute.

Prolactin and oxytocin, while crucial for milk production and ejection, do not drop drastically after birth; they respond to breastfeeding and stimulation. FSH and LH are influenced by lactational physiology and hormonal feedback, but their dramatic decline is not determined by the immediate placental withdrawal the way estrogen and progesterone are. Testosterone isn’t a primary postpartum driver in this context.

So the two hormones that decrease drastically are estrogen and progesterone.