Sex-hormonal agent
A sex-hormonal agent, also known as a sex-hormone receptor modulator, is a type of hormonal agent which specifically modulates the effects of sex hormones and of their biological targets, the sex hormone receptors. The sex hormones include androgens such as testosterone, estrogens such as estradiol, and progestogens such as progesterone. Sex-hormonal agents may be either steroidal or nonsteroidal in chemical structure and may serve to either enhance, inhibit, or have mixed effects on the function of the sex hormone systems.
Sex-hormonal agents are used in medicine for a variety of purposes including hormone therapy, antihormone therapy, and hormonal contraception, among others.
Types and examples
Androgen receptor (AR) modulators
- Androgens and anabolic steroids
- * Examples: testosterone, androstanolone, prasterone, nandrolone, methyltestosterone, metandienone, oxandrolone, stanozolol, danazol
- Selective androgen receptor modulators
- * Examples: enobosarm, andarine
- Antiandrogens
- * Examples: cyproterone acetate, chlormadinone acetate, spironolactone, flutamide, bicalutamide, enzalutamide, apalutamide
Estrogen receptor (ER) modulators
- Estrogens
- * Examples: estradiol, estrone, estriol, estetrol, conjugated estrogens, ethinylestradiol, diethylstilbestrol, chlorotrianisene
- Selective estrogen receptor modulators
- * Examples: tamoxifen, clomifene, cyclofenil, raloxifene, toremifene, lasofoxifene, ospemifene, bazedoxifene
- Antiestrogens
- * Examples: fulvestrant, ICI-164384, TAS-108, ZB716, ethamoxytriphetol
Progesterone receptor (PR) modulators
- Progestogens and progestins
- * Examples: progesterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, norethisterone, levonorgestrel, drospirenone, dydrogesterone
- Selective progesterone receptor modulators
- * Examples: mifepristone, ulipristal acetate, telapristone, vilaprisan
- Antiprogestogens
- * Examples: aglepristone, onapristone