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Oral Administration

Meaning

Oral administration refers to the route of drug or hormone delivery where the substance is swallowed and absorbed primarily through the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream. This method is the most common, convenient, and patient-preferred route for long-term therapeutic regimens, including many forms of hormone replacement therapy. Clinicians must consider the impact of gastric acidity, intestinal absorption variability, and hepatic first-pass metabolism when utilizing this delivery method. While convenient, the systemic bioavailability of orally administered compounds can be significantly lower than other routes.