chemical castration

[ kem-i-kuhl kas-trey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a drug-administered alternative to surgical castration that, instead of removing the gonads, chemically reduces the drive or ability for sexual activity and is useful in the treatment of certain cancers, especially prostate cancer. In a number of countries, convicted child molesters and other sex offenders may be subject to chemical castration as part of their judicial sentence:

   Psychiatrists and other medical personnel were called in to discuss whether his sexually deviant behavior could be effectively dulled by chemical castration.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chemical castration¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Over the decades, conversion therapies used to “cure” homosexuality included hypnosis, lobotomies, inducing nausea, vomiting, paralysis, electric shock, chemical castration, among other things.

From Washington Blade

Turing was offered the option of two years in prison or oestrogen injections—tantamount to chemical castration.

From The Daily Beast

The scenes of Turing undergoing the chemical castration are really gut wrenching.

From The Daily Beast

He was given the choice of two years in prison or oestrogen injections, tantamount to chemical castration.

From The Daily Beast

And every time one of these guys pops up in the news, the same phrase pops up in my brain: chemical castration.

From The Daily Beast

Mental-health professionals emphasize that chemical castration is not appropriate for every type of sex offender.

From The Daily Beast