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
Carina StorrsExamples of hormone therapy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many women across the country are struggling to get their hands on estrogen patches after the FDA removed black box warning labels on many hormone therapy drugs.
—Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
McKeon, for one, is now on vaginal estrogen, a type of local hormone therapy that doesn’t enter the bloodstream—and therefore won’t up her risk of cancer recurrence—but can restore vaginal softness and moisture.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 20 Mar. 2026
Caring for Your Heart After Menopause Hirsch suggests that women experiencing premature menopause talk to their doctors about hormone therapy, which has been shown to benefit heart health.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 18 Mar. 2026
The order threatens to withhold federal funds to medical facilities and professionals who provide hormone therapy or surgical treatment for minors experiencing gender dysphoria to transition to the gender that fits their gender identity.
—Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hormone therapy
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Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
McKeon, for one, is now on vaginal estrogen, a type of local hormone therapy that doesn’t enter the bloodstream—and therefore won’t up her risk of cancer recurrence—but can restore vaginal softness and moisture.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 20 Mar. 2026
Caring for Your Heart After Menopause Hirsch suggests that women experiencing premature menopause talk to their doctors about hormone therapy, which has been shown to benefit heart health.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 18 Mar. 2026
The order threatens to withhold federal funds to medical facilities and professionals who provide hormone therapy or surgical treatment for minors experiencing gender dysphoria to transition to the gender that fits their gender identity.
—Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hormone therapy
Cite this Entry
“Hormone therapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hormone%20therapy. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Carina StorrsLove words? Need even more definitions?
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