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

An earlier study, also published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that transgender women who went through male puberty retained an athletic edge after one year of hormone therapy. —Brooke Migdon, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024

This case challenges the 2023 law Tennessee lawmakers enacted which bans doctors from giving puberty blockers or hormone therapy to a minor seeking treatment for gender dysphoria. —Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 4 Dec. 2024

There are other circumstances in which non-transgender patients can be treated with puberty blockers and hormone therapy, the challengers say. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 4 Dec. 2024

Twenty-four states currently restrict puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery for transgender minors. —Kayla Gaskins, Baltimore Sun, 3 Dec. 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