By Team Aakash Byju's |28th October 2022
Relaxin is a hormone that the ovary secretes in the later stages of pregnancy.
The placenta and the corpus luteum in the ovary produce a large quantity of relaxin.
During the first trimester, between the 8th and 12th week of pregnancy relaxin concentrations are highest at approximately 1.2 ng/mL.
They progressively decrease for the rest of the pregnancy to 1 ng/mL.
The decidua and placenta both produce relaxin in the later phase of pregnancy.
This hormone relaxes the uterine muscles and widens the cervix to ease pregnancy and delivery.