Hormone replacement therapy has become more popular lately, with one option being hormone pellets. People are interested in these pellets because they last for 3 to 6 months at a time. However, even when using pellets, providers will still prescribe progesterone anytime they prescribe estradiol. So while pellets are convenient, you’re still taking hormones daily.
Successful hormone therapy really comes down to getting the right balance and doses. This requires an individualized treatment plan that uses the appropriate hormones and delivery method for you. There are actually quite a few different options when it comes to how you can take your hormones, like pills, creams, patches, and more. Your provider can help you find the best fit.
The key is working closely with your healthcare provider to create a personalized plan that addresses your unique needs and provides the right hormone balance. With the right approach, you can find an effective and convenient solution.
Annamarie Salyer FNP-C is a functional medicine hormone replacement specialist at BionwoRx offering bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
What are hormone pellets?
Hormone pellets are comprised of either estradiol or testosterone. Sometimes they are a combination of both. The hormones are infused into very small solid cylinders (pellets). Hormone pellets are about the size of a grain of rice. Providers insert them in the lower abdominal wall or hip through a small incision that is taped closed. Complications from the insertion of pellets can include:
- Minor bleeding
- Bruising
- Discoloration of the skin
- Infection
- Possible extrusion of the pellet
The pellets usually last between 3-5 months in women and 5-6 months in men.
Side effects can occur when a dose is first given. These side effects may not resolve, which requires a change in the dosage. Further, some side effects can be linked to a certain hormone in the mixture.
Incorrect hormone doses can cause unpleasant symptoms, including:
- Weight gain
- Blurred vision
- Tiredness
- Acne
- Increased facial hair (women)
- Headaches
- Breast tenderness
- Spotting
- Cramping
- Bloating
- Mood swings
- Scar tissue at the insertion site
Other hormone pellet side effects
Patients have reported increases in aggressiveness, acne, irritability, and facial hair during pellet hormone therapy. Women have also reported severe headaches, breast tenderness, spotting, cramping, and bloating. Further, there are also reports of scar tissue at the insertion site that leave a bump or mark on the skin permanently.
We use daily creams and pills, and weekly injections, not pellets that cannot be adjusted
Due to too many drawbacks in their use, the functional medicine practitioner at BionwoRx does not work with hormone pellets, and here’s why.
Hormone levels do not stay the same. To point out, there are many factors that can cause hormone levels to continuously increase and decrease. In addition to the normal aging process, other factors include:
- Micronutrient levels
- Gut health issues
- Prescription medications
- Stress
- Drugs
- Alcohol
- Toxins
- Foods
- Exercise
- Changes in lifestyle
Hormone testing
BionwoRx is extremely thorough in testing hormone levels for a wide range of your most vital hormones. This includes the male and female hormones testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, as well as insulin function and a complete thyroid panel. Then we work to increase these to acceptable levels and ensure they are well balanced. If any unwanted symptoms occur, levels can easily be adjusted until you reach optimum levels. With routine monitoring, we can ensure that despite these shifts and changes, you can maintain optimum hormone levels long-term.
Other factors
Hormone balance is deeply connected to:
- Diet
- Nutrient levels
- Exercise
- Toxins
- Weight
- Stress
- Biological age
How these multiple factors impact the overall hormone picture is crucial. This is especially the case when we reach middle age and hormone production levels are declining. To illustrate, if you are under too much stress, cortisol floods the system and total hormone production lags. As a result, this can also throw other hormone levels out of balance.
Getting it right
With hormone pellets, the dose cannot be changed once it is inserted without surgical removal of the pellet. Therefore, if these levels aren’t exactly right or if hormone levels shift due to stress or changes in lifestyle, travel, trauma, or a host of other factors, your dosages cannot be easily changed once they are inserted.
With thorough testing, monitoring and adjusting, we work to get your hormone levels just right to relieve unwanted symptoms and improve your quality of life. When this is occurring, you can experience relief from the unpleasant symptoms caused by hormone imbalances and regain energy, strength, and stamina, mental alertness, and clarity – now and for many years to come.
Schedule a consultation at BionwoRx today.
Do you want to find out more about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy? If so, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with Annamarie Salyer FNP-C at BionwoRx to determine if BHRT is right for you.
