Withdrawal bleeding

Vaginal blood loss that occurs when the body’s level of oestrogen or progesterone hormones or progestogen drugs drops suddenly. The withdrawal bleeding that occurs at the end of each month’s supply of combined oral contraceptive pills mimics menstruation but is usually shorter and lighter. Discontinuation of an oestrogenonly or progestogen-only preparation also produces bleeding, which may differ from normal menstruation in its amount and duration.