hormone therapy

noun

: the therapeutic use of hormones: such as

a

: the administration of hormones especially to increase diminished levels in the body

especially : hormone replacement therapy

b

: therapy involving the use of drugs or surgical procedures to suppress the production of or to inhibit the effects of a hormone (such as estrogen or testosterone)

hormone therapy to treat breast or prostate cancer

c

: the administration or use of sex hormones (such as estrogen or testosterone) or other agents (such as antiandrogens) to suppress or induce the development of certain secondary sex characteristics to better align with the gender identity of a transgender or gender nonconforming individual

Many transgender people take lifelong hormone therapy …

—Carina Storrs

Examples of hormone therapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Stage three breast cancer might involve radiation, chemotherapy, five years of hormone therapy. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2024

But age alone shouldn’t force a woman off hormone therapy. —Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 10 Sep. 2024

Subsequent research found that the degree of risk was associated with the type of hormone therapy imposed, the size of the dose, how long it was taken, and the pre-existing health risk profile of the patient. —Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 15 Aug. 2024

There also is evidence that the athletic advantages sparked by testosterone in males are not neutralized by hormone therapy. —Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

hormone therapy

noun

variants or hormonal therapy

: the therapeutic use of hormones: as

a

: the administration of hormones especially to increase diminished levels in the body

especially : hormone replacement therapy

b

: therapy involving the use of drugs or surgical procedures to suppress the production of or inhibit the effects of a hormone (as estrogen or testosterone)

hormone therapy to treat breast or prostate cancer

c

: the administration or use of sex hormones or other agents (as antiandrogens) to suppress or induce the development of certain secondary sex characteristics to better align with the gender identity of an individual

Many transgender people take lifelong hormone therapy …

—Carina Storrs