A Hormone Replacement that reaches the most Physiological levels

Hormone pellet implants have been around for over 70 years. There are many articles in the medical journals proving the safety and efficacy of estradiol and testosterone implants. Unfortunately, they have never really caught on, in spite of the fact that they represent, so far, the most physiologic, most natural form of hormone replacement yet devised. The reason this is the case is that they have never been taught to medical students or residents. It is not an FDA approved drug and has never been patented. Since they haven’t been patented, they would not be a profitable item for a drug company to try and market.

The advantage of pellets over pills, patches, creams, gels, and injections is that they are more convenient (they are inserted only 2-3 times a year) and they provide a much more even level of hormone in the blood. And in contrast to oral pills, they avoid the “first pass effect” of having to go through the liver, and getting metabolized to a great degree before they really get into your bloodstream to have their desired effect. In addition, when testosterone is delivered via a patch or gel, it often is converted into estrogen by an enzyme in the skin called aromatase.

Major side effects of pellet implants are essentially none. Minor side effects are also uncommon however are reported from time to time. An example would be tender breasts or nipples if more estrogen or testosterone was given than was actually required. Unwanted hair growth is report by about 20 % of women. The most common undesirable event that occurs in patients receiving pellet implants is temporary minor discomfort (like a bruise would feel) at the pellet site lasting maybe 2 to 3 days. Only 30 % of women complain of this discomfort.

In the doctor's office, using a local anesthetic, they are painlessly inserted under the skin of the hip, through a tiny incision, using a small insertion device. Then, a small piece of tape is used to close the
incision. The whole procedure takes only 2 to 3 minutes, and the amount of Discomfort one feels is actually less than getting a blood test.

If pellet therapy is being considered, it is essential that certain lab tests be performed both before and after pellet insertion, to ensure that proper doses are being given. Insurance usually covers most of the associated office visits, lab tests, and insertion fee. The patient is responsible for the cost of the pellets themselves, since most insurance plans do not reimburse for them.

If a woman still has her uterus, then she will need to take oral progesterone on a regular basis to protect the uterus.

Look for a physician in your area that has been trained in giving hormone pellet implants or call your local compounding pharmacy and find out if they can tell you which doctors are doing Pellet therapy.

MORE ABOUT HORMONE PELLET THERAPY