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

The document states that transgender inmates may require access to individual counseling, emotional support, and medical care such as hormone therapy, surgery, and more while incarcerated based on their individualized assessment. —Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2024

All of them suggested the standard of care—lumpectomy, radiation, and hormone therapy. —Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 16 Oct. 2024

After consulting with several doctors, Fishel decided on a lumpectomy followed by radiation and hormone therapy, opting not to pursue a double mastectomy after genetic testing revealed she wasn’t predisposed to cancer. —Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 16 Oct. 2024

The role of estrogen has also been observed in transgender women on hormone therapy, who show similar migraine frequency to cisgender women. —Lori Youmshajekian, WIRED, 23 Sep. 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