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Hormonal Contraception Cessation

Meaning

Hormonal contraception cessation is the clinical event marking the deliberate discontinuation of any exogenous hormonal medication used for birth control, such as oral pills, transdermal patches, or injectable progestins. This cessation initiates a period of profound endocrine transition as the body’s native Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian (HPO) axis attempts to re-establish its endogenous, self-regulated function. The process involves the clearance of synthetic hormones and the reawakening of the natural feedback loop, which can be associated with a variety of transient physiological and symptomatic changes.