What is Pellet Hormone Therapy?
Pellet therapy uses hormones derived from natural plant sources to replicate the body’s normal hormonal levels. Patients have found that bioidentical hormone replacement therapy with hormone pellets is extremely effective. These hormone implants, placed under the skin, consistently release small, physiologic doses of hormones, providing optimal therapy.
Unlike typical oral and transdermal forms of hormone therapy — which produce “roller coaster” hormone levels, resulting in mood and energy fluctuations for the patient — Medical Hormone Pellet Therapy is the only method of hormone replacement therapy that provides sustained hormone levels throughout the day, for up to 4 to 6 months, without any “roller coaster” effect.
Because the hormones used are completely natural, pellet hormone therapy is ideal for patients wanting the benefits of a natural hormone, without the drawbacks of a synthetic.
How Does Pellet Hormone Therapy Work?
Pellet insertion is a relatively simple in-office procedure done under local anesthesia. It takes an average of 10-15 minutes in total. The pellets are inserted subcutaneously (under the fatty lining of the skin) in the upper buttocks through a very small incision. The incision is then closed with sterile tape strips. Hormone implants placed under the skin consistently release small, physiologic doses of hormones, keeping a patient’s levels in a therapeutic range until the next pellet procedure.
What Are Hormone Pellets Made Of?
Pellets contain natural plant sources of estrogen and testosterone. A compounding pharmacist, using strict federal guidelines, compounds the estrogen and testosterone utilized in the pellets.
These pellets, which are smaller than a grain of rice, are placed in the fatty tissue underneath the skin and most closely mimic the actions of healthy ovaries and testicles with regard to hormone release into the bloodstream. The implantation procedure is easily performed in the office.
How much does pellet therapy cost?
Female Pellet Procedure: $450
Male Pellet Procedure: $900
We will have each patient complete blood work prior to the procedure. The blood work can be submitted to insurance or patients can use our cash-pay option.
Quest Cash-Pay Option
Our partnership with Quest Diagnostics allows us to offer discounted blood test pricing to all of our patients. Those who benefit most are patients who have no insurance or high deductibles.
We collect the greatly reduced fee from the patient, submit an electronic order, and then are billed directly by Quest. The caveat is we must collect payment prior to submitting the electronic order and it must be drawn at a dedicated Quest Diagnostics draw station. On average, the cost is 80% below retail charges.
Benefits of pellet hormone therapy for women
In studies, when compared to conventional hormone replacement therapy, pellet hormone therapy has been shown to be extremely effective for relief of menopausal symptoms; maintenance of bone density; restoration of sleep patterns; improvement in sex drive, libido, sexual response and performance; relief of depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings; and many other symptoms. Pellet hormone replacement has been used to treat migraine and menstrual headaches. It also helps with symptoms such as vaginal dryness, incontinence, and urinary urgency and frequency. Moreover, hundreds of studies show natural testosterone to be highly preventive against health conditions such as breast cancer, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia.
Benefits of pellet hormone therapy for men
Testosterone levels begin to decline in men beginning in their early 30s. Most men need to be tested around 45 years of age. Symptoms of testosterone deficiency in men include fatigue, lack of mental acuity, loss of libido, and difficulty achieving or sustaining erection.
Pellet hormone therapy achieves the sustained levels of testosterone that would be produced by normally functioning testicles. This form of therapy is the only kind that produces the natural level of hormone that men need. Because the testosterone used is totally natural, pellet hormone replacement is ideal for men wanting the benefits of a natural hormone, without the drawbacks of a synthetic. Moreover, many studies show optimal testosterone levels in men, over 800, have preventive effects for many disease states such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, prostate cancer, osteoporosis, and more.
Typical oral and transdermal forms of therapy produce “roller coaster” blood levels of testosterone, which can result in mood and energy fluctuations for the patient. Roller-coaster levels of hormones do not have the same long-term benefits as steady-state hormones in the bloodstream.
What if my primary care physician says that there is “no data” to support the use of pellet hormone therapy? And is it safe?
There is a big difference between “no data” and not having read the data. It’s about a patient making an informed choice. Pellet hormone therapy has been researched and developed since 1939 in the U.S. and Europe, and there is an abundance of data to support the long-term safety and efficacy of hormones delivered by pellet implants. Bioidentical pellet hormone therapy is being used safely in 5 continents and has been studied for 8 decades, not only looking at safety and efficacy but the prevention of diseases such as breast cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s dementia, type 2 diabetes and much more.
There are hundreds of studies available to practitioners with regard to pellet hormone therapy, unfortunately, most do not know where to find them or do not take the time to research the studies. For more information, view our resource library of studies and papers on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
Additional pellet hormone therapy resources
Comprehensive bioidentical hormone research information
View the strict guidelines that are standard for pellets. The control is unsurpassed in the industry: Pellet Hormone Quality Control
Pellet Hormone Therapy FAQs
What are the benefits of bioidentical hormone therapy?
The quality of life that may be achieved after undergoing bioidentical hormone therapy is significant. Some patients have experienced:
- Increased energy levels
- Restored or increased sexual drive
- Consistency in moods
- No more roller-coaster effect
- Relief from anxiety and depression
- Decreased body fat
- Increased mental clarity and focus
- Greater capacity for getting the body in shape
How often will I need pellet hormone treatment?
The frequency of pellet hormone therapy treatment depends on the person, but most patients return to our Leawood office for treatment anywhere from 4-6 months.
Are there any side effects or complications to pellet hormone therapy?
Unlike with other forms of hormone therapy, there are typically few side effects with pellet hormone therapy. Approximately two percent of patients experience mild acne or facial hair, and less than 1 percent experience hair thinning. All of these mild side effects are easily treatable.
I get horrible headaches, will pellet hormone therapy help me?
In the past, many patients using our bioidentical hormone therapy experienced great success with hormone-related headaches.
If I am a woman, do I still need estrogen?
Bioidentical absorbable estrogen may be a factor in protecting women against heart attack and stroke, as well as osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s. Synthetic estrogen taken orally does not offer these universal benefits.
I have no libido, will bioidentical hormone therapy help?
Good hormone balance may improve your sexual desires.
Will I grow unwanted hair from the testosterone?
There is less chance of hair growth with bioidentical hormones than with other forms of hormone therapy.
Do I need other medications?
Unless the uterus has been removed, women will also need progesterone, to protect the uterine lining.
Individual results may vary.
Are you ready to feel your best and start living life to the fullest? Request an appointment in our Kansas City area office with our bioidentical hormone therapy specialist!