Endocrine Suppression Rebound describes the temporary but often intense overcompensation of a body’s native hormone production pathways following the abrupt cessation of an exogenous hormone therapy or a substance that artificially suppressed the system. This phenomenon is a consequence of the negative feedback loop within the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes being suddenly removed. Clinically, it can lead to transient hormonal imbalances, manifesting as symptoms ranging from fatigue to mood disturbances until the endogenous production stabilizes.
Origin
This clinical term is directly derived from the pharmacological and physiological understanding of negative feedback loops in the endocrine system. The body’s own hormone production is suppressed by external hormone administration; upon withdrawal, the signaling pathways attempt to rapidly restore balance, often overshooting the set point. “Rebound” accurately describes the exaggerated return to activity after a period of enforced dormancy or suppression.
Mechanism
The mechanism involves the pituitary gland, which, having been inhibited by high circulating exogenous hormone levels, suddenly detects a precipitous drop when the external source is removed. In response, the pituitary rapidly increases the secretion of its trophic hormones, such as luteinizing hormone (LH) or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This surge overstimulates the target gland—the testes, ovaries, or adrenals—leading to a transient period of excessive endogenous hormone production before the feedback system gradually re-establishes a homeostatic set point.
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