Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Pellet Therapy

Hormone replacement pellets are made of either estradiol or testosterone. Naturally derived from soybeans, these hormones are identical to those produced by our bodies. Hormones are pressed into small, solid pellets larger than a grain of rice, but smaller than a Tic-Tac. These pellets are made by pharmacists and delivered to our office in sterile glass vials. Being made of natural compounds, pellets are completely absorbed by the body.

Unlike creams, pills, and patches, pellets deliver more consistent and healthy levels of hormones into the body. Pellets are absorbed  over the course of 4-6 months for men. Pellets are ideal because they avoid the delivery fluctuations experienced with other hormone delivery systems. Additionally, these natural hormones don’t increase the risk of blood clots in the same way as synthetic hormones. Pellet therapy maintains an extremely high success rate, even for patients who have tried other systems of hormone therapy with little or no results.

Testosterone pellets are used in both men and women, and will increase your lean body mass (strengthening muscles and bone density) and decrease your fat mass.The most common response from our patients about pellet therapy is that it has restored their quality of life. With Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, men may experience the following benefits:

• Decreased Body Fat
• Increased Muscle Strength and Endurance
• Restored or Increased Sex Drive
• Relief from Depression and Anxiety
• Increased Energy Levels
• Greater Focus and Mental Clarity
• Relief from Insomnia

Before hormone pellets are administered, we’ll draw your blood and send it to the lab for analysis. This will allow us to establish baseline hormone levels in your system. We can then determine the optimal hormone dose on an individual basis.For men, we will measure out testosterone, prostate specific antigen, estradiol, blood count, and liver profile levels will all be checked.

For men, testosterone levels are highest in the morning. So it’s best to have your levels checked earlier in the day.

After your ideal hormone levels are determined and pellets are administered, your levels will need to be checked again after one month after insertion.

The pellet therapy procedure is simple, quick, and painless. After administering a local anesthetic, pellets are inserted usually in the upper hip area through a tiny incision. Following the insertion, we’ll put a Band-Aid on the incision area and send you on your way.

Many patients begin feeling positive effects as soon as 24-48 hours following insertion. For other patients, results may be felt in a week or two. While hormone balance plays a key role in achieving optimal health, it should be noted that proper diet, regular exercise, and stress management are also important.

Because they’re made of only natural compounds, pellets will be completely absorbed by your body. This means there will be no residue, no bumps, and no sign of them at the injection site. For men, pellets last for 5 to 6 months. Occasionally, a booster pellet could be inserted, if necessary. This is sometimes needed due to differences in activity level, stress level, your body’s own hormone depletion, and individual metabolism from patient to patient. This is the reason we’ll measure your hormone levels again after one month from your original pellet insertion.

Yes! Testosterone levels begin to decline for men in their early thirties. By age 45, or before, testosterone levels in most men are low enough that they would benefit from pellet therapy. Regardless of age, however, you should have your testosterone levels checked if you show any signs of testosterone deficiency:

• Fatigue
• Depression
• Moodiness
• Erectile Dysfunction
• Bone Loss
• Mental Decline
• Difficulty Sleeping

Yes! Testosterone pellet therapy has shown great success in dramatically reducing testosterone-related migraines and headaches.

If you’re experiencing low libido, sexual dysfunction, pain during intercourse, or lack of sexual desire, these could all be signs of hormone deficiency. Achieving optimal hormone balance can restore your quality of life by greatly improving sexual function, interest, and enjoyment.

A common cause of hair loss is suboptimal hormone levels. Pellet therapy can absolutely help to re-grow hair.

Usually, pellet therapy is not covered by health insurance. While other forms of hormone therapy are covered by some insurance companies, pellets are excluded. Because hormone pellets aren’t produced by large, conglomerate pharmaceutical corporations, there isn’t any pressure being put on insurance companies to cover pellet therapy. When copays and deductibles are factored in, most of our patients find pellet therapy to be affordable despite the fact it isn’t covered by insurance. Receiving superior treatment is worth the investment.

Unlike other less-effective forms of hormone therapy, there are very few side effects to pellet therapy. Even still, those side effects are transient. You may experience temporary breast discomfort, nipple tenderness, or bloating. Very rarely, a pellet insertion site could become inflamed or come out. Most patients, however, only experience minor bruising at the insertion site.

Because hormone receptors are very sensitive, you may also experience a temporary water weight gain, but it will resolve on its own. Some women (who still have their uterus) will see a return of some menstrual-type bleeding, but this bleeding is easily managed by adjusting the dosage of pellets.

With testosterone pellets, women may see increased or darker hair growth, or mild acne, but these are easily managed. Additionally, in men, testosterone stimulates bone marrow and increases production of red blood cells. if hemoglobin and blood count get too high, a unit of blood may be donated.

As with any product or procedure, it’s important that you let Dr. Bloy know about any side effects you might be experiencing during the brief hormone balancing process.

After pellet insertion, any vigorous physical activity should be avoided for 48 hours in women, and for up to 5-7 days in men. Early physical activity can be a cause for pellet “extrusion,” the pellet working its way out of the insertion site. Though it may be inconvenient, this activity rest only occurs 3-4 times per year.