Which structure in females is responsible for producing progesterone after ovulation?

The structure responsible for producing progesterone after ovulation is the corpus luteum. Following ovulation, when an egg is released from the follicle, the remaining cells of the ruptured follicle transform into the corpus luteum. This temporary endocrine structure plays a crucial role in the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy by secreting progesterone.

Progesterone is important because it helps to prepare the uterine lining for a potential implantation of a fertilized egg. It maintains the uterine environment, making it conducive for a developing embryo. If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates, leading to a decrease in progesterone levels, which triggers menstruation.

The follicle, although significant in the early stages of the menstrual cycle, primarily produces estrogen and does not persist after ovulation. The fimbriae are involved in guiding the egg from the ovary into the fallopian tube but do not have a role in hormone production. The ovary contains both follicles and the corpus luteum but is not the specific structure producing progesterone after ovulation; that role belongs solely to the corpus luteum.