Editing Menstrual cycle (section)

=== Hormonal contraception ===
{{main|Hormonal contraception}}
Hormonal contraceptives prevent pregnancy by inhibiting the secretion of the hormones, FSH, LH and GnRH. Hormonal contraception that contains estrogen, such as [[combined oral contraceptive pills]] (COCPs), stop the development of the dominant follicle and the mid-cycle LH surge and thus ovulation.{{sfn|Tortora|2017|p=948}}  Sequential dosing and discontinuation of the COCP can mimic the uterine cycle and produce bleeding that resembles a period. In some cases, this bleeding is lighter.<ref name="pmid29940996">{{cite journal |vauthors=Polis CB, Hussain R, Berry A |title=There might be blood: a scoping review on women's responses to contraceptive-induced menstrual bleeding changes |journal=Reproductive Health |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=114 |date=June 2018 |pmid=29940996 |pmc=6020216 |doi=10.1186/s12978-018-0561-0 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Progestin-only methods of hormonal contraception do not always prevent ovulation but instead work by stopping the cervical mucus from becoming sperm-friendly. Hormonal contraception is available in a variety of forms such as pills, [[contraceptive patch|patches]], [[Long-acting reversible contraception|skin implants]] and [[Hormonal IUDs|hormonal intrauterine devices]] (IUDs).{{sfn|Tortora|2017|pp=948–949}}