Risks And Cost Of This Treatment
There are very few risks to this treatment and the risks occur extremely rarely. In fact, because this is a natural hormone replacement method, there is no increased risk of breast cancer as is seen with some other forms of treatment. Most of the time, any problem that comes out of this treatment occurs due to improper insertion of the pellet. This makes it very important for you to go to a trained and experienced medical professional for this procedure. They should not only know exactly how to insert the pellet but they also need to be able to give you the exact dose of hormones that are necessary for your body.
The cost of this treatment varies depending on the number of pellets that need to be inserted or the dose of hormones that need to be given to the patient. Men usually need more testosterone pellets than most women so the cost for their treatment is usually higher. However, if you compare the cost of this treatment to other treatment plans in the long term, pellet treatments work out very cost effective because you will get results much faster. And of course, the cost of treating the problem is definitely much cheaper than having to pay for getting rid of any disease or illness that might occur due to a hormonal imbalance.
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Who May Benefit From Pellet Hormone Therapy
Pellet hormone therapy typically benefits people who have symptoms of hormone imbalance related to age or other factors. In addition to serious medical conditions, as hormone levels decline, both men and women can feel less like themselves than when they were younger. They may not have the strength or energy they once had, sex may be difficult or uncomfortable, they may gain or lose weight, and they may be more sensitive to heat and cold. All kinds of things can change, from hair and skin to memory, when the body isnt producing its optimal level of hormones.
What Are Risks And Side Effects Of Hormone Pellet Therapy For Women
Hormone pellet insertion is a low risk procedure. A small percentage of women may experience a procedure related issue, such as infection, bleeding under the skin, or transient discomfort. Below is a discussion of potential risks and side effects related to the hormones of which pellets are composed.
Testosterone. Significant health risks of bioidentical testosterone therapy in women have not been identified. Any adverse health risk data you may have heard about would more likely be related to a synthetic oral drug called methyltestosterone, the only FDA approved testosterone available for females in the US, and a very different compound than bioidentical testosterone. Unfortunately, when disease risk related to hormone therapy is reported, authors commonly lump all hormones into one big pile, seemingly not recognizing that synthetic formulations are often much more potent, are not biochemically identical to each other or to our own natural hormones, and have different effects on the body than our natural hormones. Current data specifically regarding bioidentical testosterone formulations in women have not shown increased risk in cancer, cardiovascular disease, or other serious condition. In fact, numerous scientific studies suggest non-oral bioidentical testosterone may be breast protective, as well as protective of the heart, bones, and brain.
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Why Are Humans Taking Non
Because bio-identical hormones are naturally produced by our bodies, the production process cannot be patented. Therefore, large pharmaceutical companies cannot make large profits from the sales of bio-identical hormones. The pharmaceutical industry creates hormone drugs by using animal hormones to create products that are chemically different from human hormones but they still bind to human receptorsoften much too strongly. Premarin binds to human estrogen receptors 20 times stranger than natural estrogen. Mass production of non-bio-identical hormones by drug companies is very profitable despite the health issues and side effects caused by them. Conversely, bio-identical hormones have not been shown to have any serious side effects.
What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Pellet Implantation
When administered properly, side effects with BHRT are extremely rare. The pellet insertion process itself may cause minor bleeding or bruising.
When testosterone is administered to women in low doses, such as 6mg there typically is little to no increase in facial hair and/or acne.
There is also a small chance of a minor allergic reaction occurring at the site of insertion, which may indicate low cortisol levels.
If this should occur, recommendations include regular doses of Benadryl, hydrocortisone therapy, and Keflex.
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Consultation And Evaluation For Hormone Pellet Therapy
Completion of the Female Hormone Pellet Therapy Consultation will involve full symptom discussion and evaluation, a pelvic ultrasound in our facility, and a panel of laboratories for baseline hormone levels plus other indicated labs. Hormone Pellets may be inserted during the second visit after a discussion of lab and ultrasound results.
Am I A Good Candidate For Pellet Hormone Replacement Therapy
Virtually anyone who is a candidate for hormone replacement therapy is a candidate for pellets. You may be a good candidate for hormone pellet therapy if you experience any of the following:
- Severe menopausal symptoms that include headaches, sleep problems, painful intercourse, mood changes, night sweats, decreased cognitive function, or memory loss
- Premature menopause before age 40
- Surgical menopause by age 45
- Menopause before age 45 due to chemotherapy
- Primarily non-vaginal symptoms of menopause, making topical treatments ineffective
- No long-term relief from other recommended treatments and lifestyle strategies
The pellet administration method may be particularly suitable for patients with busy lifestyles who want to avoid adding take hormones to their daily schedule. It may also be ideal for those who have trouble remembering to take daily medication. Patients who travel often especially find it more convenient.
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What Are The Benefits Of Hormone Pellets
The primary benefit of hormone pellet therapy is that it effectively relieves the uncomfortable symptoms of hormonal fluctuation or decline. While many forms of HRT can do this, pellets are unique.Convenience:Because hormone pellets last for 3-6 months, patients typically find them very convenient. When youre able to set it and forget it, its easy to adhere to treatment. This is very different from oral or topical therapies that must be taken or applied daily or injections that require visits to your doctors office every few weeks.Predictability:The steady rate of hormone release helps you avoid the hormonal fluctuations that often occur with other delivery methods.These benefits help explain why more and more patients are choosing pellet therapy.
How Are Hormone Pellets Different Than Hormones Delivered By Pills Creams Or Patches
With the greater awareness and understanding of the health benefits of balanced hormones, pellets are becoming increasingly popular due to their simplicity no need to remember to replace a patch, use a topical cream or have an injection. The pellets provide a steady release of hormones.
Hormone pellets help avoid the roller coaster effect of hormone replacement that occurs when using other forms. Daily spikes occur with pills, creams, injections or patches, while hormone pellets slowly release into your bloodstream. Pellet delivery can also help avoid changes in the liver sometimes experienced with other therapy and wont increase the risk of clotting.
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Articles On Pellet Hormone Delivery System
Hormone Pellet Therapy For Women:
In studies, when compared to conventional hormone replacement therapy, pellets have been shown to be extremely effective for relief of menopausal symptoms, maintenance of bone density, restoration of sleep patterns and improvement in sex drive, libido, sexual response and performance, relief of depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings and many others.
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What Is Pellet Implantation
BHRT pellet implantation involves placing small implants under the skin which release specific doses of hormones over several months. The pellets are replaced as needed once they have dissolved.
Typically the hormones in the pellets are compounded and fused into cylinders. The typical hormones used in pellet therapy are estradiol and testosterone for male and female patients.
Estradiol and testosterone in pellet form are effective in improving health problems including:
Health practitioners treating male patients should bear in mind that male patients may find pellets more convenient than weekly testosterone injections.
Endometrial Protection Of The Womb
If you still have your uterus you will also be prescribed a progestogen/progesterone. This is to prevent the risk of developing endometrial hyperplasia which may lead to endometrial cancer. Without adequate progestogenic opposition the additional risk increased cancer risk is 5 cases per 1000 women after 5 years of use. The gold standard is Mirena levonorgestrel intrauterine device is used with implants for maximum protection but other options can be discussed with your clinician.
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How Are The Pellets Inserted Does It Hurt
The hormone pellets are gently inserted under the skin in the hip area during a brief office visit. It takes less than 10 minutes and most people report feeling little or no pain.
The pellets release small amounts of hormone directly into the bloodstream, similar to that which the ovaries and testes produced during our younger adult years.
Context For Current Study
One of the major advantages of pellet therapy over other forms of treatment is its convenience, with few annual visits required to achieve normalization of hormone levels. Despite the long history of the use of T and estradiol implants as HRTs, aside from two reports by one research group describing 13years of use of fused crystalline T pellets,22,23 there is no prospective outcome data on compressed pellets containing either T or estradiol for hormone optimization in men and women. Thus, we evaluated continuation rates and adverse events that occurred during therapy with T and E sub-cutaneous implant therapy. To this end, we retrospectively assessed adverse events in our proprietary tracking program to evaluate if our methodology offered a safe modality to deliver T and E to both males and females as compared with historic side-effect profile of other deliver modalities.
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Pellet Implants Provide Long
The implant lasts for three to four months and delivers a constant level of hormone replacement rather than the sudden surge youd receive with taking a pill. This delivery approach also provides a more natural form of hormone replacement therapy that closely resembles the way your body produces hormones.
What Do Hormone Pellets For Menopause Cost
The cost of hormone pellet therapy can vary depending on the provider, but an average cost may be close to $1,536 each year.
Healthcare insurance may cover FDA-approved hormone therapy, but the extent of the coverage may vary among plans. Most insurance companies are unlikely to cover compounded bioidentical hormone therapy because it is not FDA-approved.
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What Are The Goals Of Bht
- Alleviate symptoms caused by decreased hormone production, such assleep problems, mood swings, increased body fat, decreased libido and sexual function, hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, etc.
- Re-establish the protective benefits of hormones, including bone density, cardiovascular health, immune function, balance, etc.
- Reversal of diseases traditionally associated with aging, like osteoporosis, loss of strength, fatigue, exercise intolerance, decreasing muscle mass, mental clarity, etc.
- Enhance the enjoyment, sense of well-being, and quality of life over the long term.
Bhrt Pellet Implants: Overview & Faq
What Is BHRT?
An individualized approach to hormone replacement therapy, using biologically identical hormones , pinpoints a persons exact hormone levels, and what hormones are needed to balance their hormone deficiency. The differences between synthetic and biologically identical hormones are in their chemical structures and functionality. Biologically identical hormones have the same chemical structure as the hormones created naturally in the human body.
What Are BHRT Fused Hormone Pellet Implants?
Fused hormone pellet implants are compounded using biologically identical hormones . The hormones are pressed / fused into very small cylinders. College Pharmacy also compounds DHEA, Pregnenolone, Progesterone, Biest, and Testosterone with Anastrozole fused pellet implants.
Where Are BHRT Fused Hormone Pellet Implants Inserted?
Pellet insertion is a relatively simple in-office procedure done under local anesthesia. The pellets are inserted subcutaneously , either in the lower abdomen or the upper buttocks through a very small incision. The incision is then closed with surgical glue or sterile-tape strips. If inserted correctly, patients cannot feel the implants under their skin. Implants placed under the skin consistently release small, physiologic doses of hormones, which have been shown to have many benefits.
How Long Do BHRT Fused Pellet Implants Last?
Are There Any Side-Effects?
How Do I Know What Hormones I Need?
How Can I Get BHRT Fused Pellet Implants?
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Everything You Should Know About Pellet Implantation
by DonnaWhite | Feb 5, 2021
Are you looking to learn more about hormone replacement therapy via pellet implantation?
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is an effective way for both women and men to ease symptoms related to hormone imbalance.
Pellet implantation is a convenient choice of delivery method and may be the best choice for some BHRT patients.
Risks And Benefits Of Estradiol Implants
Please speak to your clinician for individualised risks and benefits and ensure you are happy to continue this treatment. The risks and benefits of implants are the same as for any transdermal hormone replacement therapy .
Benefits include improved response when other treatments have failed and long-term bone protection. Risks include thromboembolic risk or stroke but comparable to other transdermal estradiols, when the serum estradiol remains within normal physiological range.
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Procedure For Hormone Replacement Therapy
The produce for pellet implant treatments is very simple. It is conducted under local anesthesia and there is very little pain involved. A small incision is made and the pellets are inserted into the upper area of the buttocks. The incision is then closed with a skin tape and most patients are allowed to walk out 15 minutes after the procedure and carry on with their lives.
What Is Bioidentical Hormone Pellet Therapy
Once the decision is made to use hormone therapy, there comes another decision: Which method is the best fit for you? For some women, hormone pellet therapy will be considered a superior method of hormone delivery. With this unique system, 2-3 small pellets consisting of testosterone or estradiol, each about the size of a grain of rice, are inserted beneath the skin, into the fatty tissue of the hip, and the pure hormone is delivered gradually, directly into the bloodstream. The simple in-office procedure takes only a few minutes, first with numbing of the skin, and one tiny incision that only requires a small steri strip, no stitches.
The subcutaneous pellets act as a reservoir of hormone, allowing the body to receive a consistent dose throughout the day and night. The pellets gradually absorb until they are completely dissolved, leaving no residue. Typically, a woman will find that pellets will control symptoms for 3-5 months. Because of the efficient and gradual delivery system of the hormone pellets, side effects are less likely than with oral or injectable hormones, and there is less incidence of issues related to poor absorption, sometimes problematic with hormone creams, gels, or patches.
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Hormone Testing And Monitoring
Regular hormone testing is important for both women and men when administering any type of BHRT, where labs should be run for:
Practitioners should monitor levels through hormone therapy prior to pellet insertion so every few months for the first year, then less frequently so long as the therapy is effective.
This should become part of a patients yearly testing and physical exam procedure.
Changes In Hair Growth
Hair growth is controlled by hormones. Estrogen and progesterone are responsible for controlling the hairs growth phase, helping your hair grow faster and remain on your head longer. As these hormones decline, your hair may start to fall out or become thin.
Although hormone pellet therapy can help regulate estrogen and progesterone levels in the body, the implant may not increase hormone levels enough. It may need to be adjusted by your doctor.
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Hormone Replacement Therapy Through Pellet Implants
Hormone replacement therapy pellets are tiny pellets that are inserted into a person in order to balance the hormones in the body. These FDA approved bioidentical hormones have shown a lot of improvement in men and women and they prove to be much more effective than other forms of testosterone replacement and estrogen replacement therapy.
What Are The Risks Of Bioidentical Hormones
It has been shown in research studies that there are risks to taking hormones. It can increase the risk of blood clots, stroke, and gallbladder disease. Your risk of heart disease and breast cancer may also increase if you are older or use hormonal therapy for an extended period. Many healthcare providers who use bioidentical hormones claim they are safer than traditional hormone therapy treatments. But there have been no large research studies of bioidentical hormones to show evidence of this.
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