Hormone treatment (HT) is the therapeutic use of hormones, or hormone analogs or antagonists (defined as a substance that blocks the physiological actions of another) to alter the levels of hormones in the body. Such treatments are used in a wide range of clinical situations, for example, when treating hormone-dependent cancers, in the context of sex reassignment, for a number of specific medical conditions (e.g., growth hormone therapy, hypothyroidism), and as contraceptives. HTs are also used by women at menopause to supplement the changes in the levels of endogenous sex steroids. They comprise estrogen and/or progestogen (a group of steroid hormones that includes the natural hormone progesterone and synthetic compounds). These were previously referred to as hormone replacement therapies.

Since predominantly the late 1990s and early ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles