chemical castration

noun

: the use of hormone therapy (see hormone therapy sense b) to block the production of sex hormones (as in the treatment of hormone-dependent cancers)

especially : the administration of a drug (such as medroxyprogesterone acetate) to bring about a marked reduction in the body's production of androgens and especially testosterone in the treatment of prostate cancer and to reduce the sexual urges of sex offenders (such as pedophiles)

Note: When used in the treatment of prostate cancer, chemical castration is typically called androgen deprivation therapy.

Examples of chemical castration in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Prisons in the south-west of England have been involved in a pilot program of chemical castrations since 2002, and Justice Minister Shabana Mahmood from the ruling Labour Party told lawmakers in parliament on Thursday that the program would expand to 20 more prisons in two other regions of England. —David Mac Dougall, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2025

However, some conservatives characterize the treatments as dangerous and experimental, calling certain measures chemical castration or child abuse. —Reuters, NBC News, 15 Jan. 2025

Nevertheless, trans youth’s access to gender-affirming healthcare has become a popular talking point among anti-trans conservatives in both the U.S. and U.K. In 2022, for instance, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis likened the usage of puberty blockers to chemical castration during a debate. —Abby Monteil, Them, 29 July 2024

After his conviction, Turing agreed to undergo chemical castration in order to avoid serving time in prison. —Patricia Fancher, JSTOR Daily, 26 June 2024

The method is considered much more invasive than chemical castration, which involves hormonal drugs that decrease libido. —David Matthews, New York Daily News, 4 June 2024

Men mandated by the courts to be castrated can choose chemical castration or the surgical removal of their testicles, which Sullivan chose, WBRZ reports. —Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 24 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chemical castration

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization

Medical Definition

chemical castration

noun

: the use of hormone therapy (see hormone therapy sense b) to block the production of sex hormones (such as in the treatment of hormone-dependent cancers)

especially : the administration of a drug (such as medroxyprogesterone acetate) to bring about a marked reduction in the body's production of androgens and especially testosterone in the treatment of prostate cancer and to reduce the sexual urges of sex offenders (such as pedophiles)

Note: When used in the treatment of prostate cancer, chemical castration is typically called androgen deprivation therapy.