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

Expert consensus on warnings around hormone therapy (HT) have shifted to catch up with modern scientific findings, more practitioners are updating their approach, and more women are speaking openly about their symptoms and experiences. —Ronnie Koenig, SELF, 2 Jan. 2026

And preemptively discuss the risks and benefits of menopause hormone therapy. —Anna Barton Bradley, The Conversation, 26 Dec. 2025

Now, at least 14 telehealth companies offer access to hormone therapy medications and more online. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 25 Dec. 2025

For older adolescents, the child’s family and medical team can determine whether hormone therapy is an appropriate step to take, Baker said. —Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 19 Dec. 2025

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