Virilize (Verb)
Meaning
Produce virilism in or cause to assume masculine characteristics, as through a hormonal imbalance or hormone therapy; "the drugs masculinized the teenage girl".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- Exposure to high levels of androgen can virilize a female fetus during pregnancy.
- Prolonged use of certain medications in females can virilize their physical appearance over time.
- The rare genetic disorder is known to virilize the physical characteristics of affected females at puberty.
- High doses of anabolic steroids can virilize women, leading to a number of unpleasant side effects.
- Some women virilize themselves through hormone therapy to transition to a male identity.