Skip to main content

Oral Hormone Therapy

Meaning

A clinical method of administering hormones, typically synthetic or bioidentical steroid hormones like estrogens, progestins, or androgens, in a tablet or capsule form that is ingested and absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. This delivery route is a widely utilized therapeutic strategy for managing hormonal deficiencies, such as those associated with menopause or hypogonadism, or for contraception. However, this method subjects the hormones to first-pass metabolism in the liver, which can significantly alter their bioavailability and metabolic effects.