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

But other studies show that hormone therapy — particularly when taken over age 60 — has no cardiovascular benefit at all or may even increase heart disease risk. — Mara Gordon, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026

Treatment options can include surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and other approaches depending on the stage and characteristics of the cancer. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026

Glucose changes, medications, hormone therapy, and nonhormonal treatments may help. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Feminizing hormone therapy typically do not fully reverse structural traits developed during male puberty. — Greg Cote august 3, Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hormone therapy

• immunotherapy
• pharmacotherapy
• physiotherapy
• radiotherapy
• brachytherapy
• chemotherapy
• cryotherapy
• hydrotherapy
• hypnotherapy
• monotherapy
• phototherapy
• psychotherapy

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