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Sex Steroid Suppression

Meaning

Sex Steroid Suppression is the clinical or physiological process of deliberately reducing the circulating concentrations or biological activity of sex hormones, primarily testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. This intervention is employed therapeutically in conditions where sex steroid activity is pathological, such as in hormone-sensitive cancers like prostate or breast cancer, or in certain endocrine disorders. It can be achieved through pharmacological agents that block hormone synthesis or receptor binding, or via surgical intervention. Suppression must be carefully monitored due to the potential for adverse effects on bone density and cardiovascular health.