Hormone imbalances cause all kinds of disharmony in your body and life. If you and your doctor have already determined that a hormone imbalance causes your moods swings, trouble concentrating, low libido, weight gain, osteoporosis, or other debilitating symptoms, then now the only question is how are you going to get the right amount of hormones delivered into your body to get back to optimal health? There are so many options out there. In this article, we are going to focus on one: bio-dential hormone replacement pellet therapy. We’ll answer some of the most common questions that we get about pellet therapy— and, of course, if you don’t see your question here, we’ll be glad to answer any questions you have directly.
What Are Bio-Identical Hormones?
Bio-identical hormones are human-made hormones that have the exact chemical structure of hormones naturally produced in the body. Bioidentical Hormones are naturally sourced hormones derived from plants. They have the exact chemical structure of the hormones found in your body, which means that they are an exact match for your hormone receptors. Bioidentical hormones can be delivered in various ways, including injections, creams, pills, and patches. But one of the most effective ways that they can be delivered directly to your bloodstream is via pellets.
Why Choose Pellet Therapy Over Conventional Hormone Therapies?
Medical research has shown that pellets deliver a consistent level of hormone into the bloodstream over a considered period of time. This means that you avoid the fluctuations that happen when you use creams, pills, or patches. Direct delivery into the bloodstream also avoids changes in the liver that can occur with oral hormone therapy and eliminates clotting factors.
What Are Bioidentical Hormone Pellets?
Hormones with the exact molecular structure of those found in the body, typically estradiol or testosterone, are compounded and compressed into granular-sized pellets about the size of a grain of rice.
What Does Your Doctor Do with The Pellet?
When you choose pellet therapy as your form of BHRT delivery, your provider will make a small incision in your skin and place a pellet directly under your skin. Usually, they insert the pellet in your hip or upper buttock. The procedure is quick and relatively painless. It takes about 15 minutes.
What Is the Recovery Time Like?
Recovery from pellet insertion is generally very short. You can expect some tenderness at the treatment site, but lightly icing the area in 20-minute intervals is usually enough to calm any discomfort. Most patients return to normal daily activities within one week of insertion.
Then What Happens?
The pellet delivers healthy levels of hormones into your system based on the fluctuations that are happening in your own body. After the pellet is inserted into the skin, it could take a day or two, or even a week or two, to relieve symptoms. A pellet will last for 3-6 months and then will completely dissolve and be absorbed by your body.
Are Bioidentical Hormone Pellets Safe?
The pellet itself is relatively safe. An individual’s body will rarely reject the pellet. However, some irritation or infection sometimes occurs around the injection site.
Risks are associated with every type of medication, and it is crucial to discuss risk and side effects with your provider before undergoing any treatment. The risks associated with bioidentical hormones are an increased risk of:
- Water retention
- Acne
- Breast Tenderness
- Increased facial or body hair growth
- Uterine spotting or bleeding
Who Is a Good Candidate for Bioidentical Hormone Pellets?
Pellet therapy is a good option for men and women alike. If you are from the effects of hormone imbalance, bioidentical hormone pellets bring your hormones back into balance.
What Symptoms Does BHRT Pellet Therapy Treat?
Any symptoms associated with hormone imbalances can be improved with the use of pellet therapy. Particularly peri-menopause, menopause, post-menopause, or androgen (male menopause) symptoms including:
- Memory loss
- Mood swings
- Low libido
- Sleep issues
- Hot flashes
- Pain during sex
- Night sweats
- Weight gain
- Hair loss
Research also suggests that BHRT pellet therapy can reduce your risk for cataracts, diabetes, and tooth loss and improve your skin’s appearance and elasticity.
Is Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Pellet Therapy FDA Approved?
No. There are some standardized FDA-approved hormone therapy treatments, but because pellets are compounded, they are not approved.
Does Insurance Cover Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Pellet Therapy?
Yes and no. It depends on the company and what pellets your provider uses. In our experience, your insurance company may tell you pellet therapy is covered when you make the first call, but they are not aware of what we use. Many of our patients use a health savings account or Flex account set up and can use this to pay for pellets with pre-tax dollars.
Can Pellet Therapy Help with Weight Loss?
Although BHRT was initially created to treat menopause and andropause imbalances, it can also effectively treat people who have difficulty with their weight because of a hormone imbalance. For example, Men with low testosterone and women with PCOS often experience stubborn weight gain that doesn’t respond to typical diet and exercise strategies but can effectively be treated with BHRT. People treated with BHRT for hypothyroidism, another common contributing factor to weight gain, find it to be of assistance in their weight loss efforts.
But Can’t BHRT Cause Weight Gain Too?
Yes. Sometimes it takes time to find the right dose of hormone medications and reach equilibrium so that you may experience some weight gain as a side effect. However, with proper monitoring and maintenance by a qualified provider, BHRT is more likely to help you reach a stable, healthy weight than to pack on the pounds.
Still, Have Questions?
We are here to help! If you still have questions about pellet therapy, please do not hesitate to call at 505-893-2840 or text us so that we can provide you with the answers you seek.
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