hormone replacement therapy

noun

: the therapeutic use of hormones typically to increase diminished levels in the body : hormone therapy

The usual treatment for hypothyroidism is hormone replacement therapy.

—Kate Murphy

especially : the administration of estrogen often along with a synthetic progestin especially to ameliorate the symptoms of menopause and reduce the risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis

—abbreviation HRT

Examples of hormone replacement therapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Those who can actually get in to see a doctor to prescribe hormone replacement therapy are now dealing with an estrogen patch shortage, leaving them scrambling to get their prescriptions. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 17 Sep. 2026

The study's ramifications affected millions of women, with the use of hormone replacement therapy dropping from 40% in 1999 to 5% in 2020 as most doctors stopped prescribing it. — Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

The problem began last November, when the FDA began removing some of the strongest safety label warnings from hormone replacement therapy, which triggered a surge in prescriptions. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 21 Aug. 2026

The agency dropped the two-trial default for off-patent biologic drugs, pulled the black box off hormone replacement therapy, and started publishing its drug rejection letters. — Avik Roy, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hormone replacement therapy

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

Medical Definition

hormone replacement therapy

noun

: the therapeutic use of hormones typically to increase diminished levels in the body : hormone therapy

The usual treatment for hypothyroidism is hormone replacement therapy.

—Kate Murphy

especially : the administration of estrogen often along with a synthetic progestin especially to ameliorate the symptoms of menopause and reduce the risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis

—abbreviation HRT