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

Governor Jim Justice signed a bill on March 29, 2023, that bans medical professionals from prescribing hormone therapy and puberty blockers, as well as gender-affirming surgery. —Danielle Marie Holland, Parents, 19 Apr. 2024

Two other medications commonly used for hormone therapy and birth control, medrogestone and promegestone, were also found to increase risk of meningioma. —Lily Carey, Discover Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024

The law, known as the Safe Act, prohibits hormone therapy, puberty blockers and gender-reassignment surgery for people under 18 — although a clause allows state residents already on those treatments to continue. —Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024

In recent years, 24 states have passed restrictions on gender-affirming medical care for trans minors, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery. —Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 16 Apr. 2024

Among the restricted treatments are puberty blocking-drugs, hormone therapy and surgeries. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2024

The new state law, Senate Bill 14, bars health care providers from giving gender-transition surgeries, puberty-blocking medication or hormone therapies to those under 18, with violators at risk of losing their licenses. —Emma Tucker, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024

Though it’s long been a mainstay of care, menopausal hormone therapy carries with it serious risks including cancer. —Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024

The new policy also blocks transgender women or nonbinary students who are receiving masculinizing hormone therapy. —Lucia Suarez Sang, CBS News, 8 Apr. 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