What hormone is produced in pregnancy and made by the embryo soon after conception?

The hormone produced during pregnancy that is made by the embryo shortly after conception is human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone plays a critical role in maintaining the early stages of pregnancy. Once the embryo implants into the uterine lining, it begins to produce hCG, which signals the corpus luteum to continue producing progesterone. This is vital for sustaining the uterine lining and preventing menstruation, allowing the pregnancy to develop further.

hCG is the hormone detected in pregnancy tests, making it a key marker in confirming pregnancy. Its presence is necessary for the maintenance of early pregnancy and for the proper development of the embryo.

Estrogen and progesterone are indeed important hormones during pregnancy but are produced in greater quantities later, primarily by the placenta as pregnancy progresses. Testosterone is not associated with the early stages of pregnancy, especially in the context of embryo development.