How Much Do Hormone Replacement Pellets Cost
In this blog, we break down the cost of each different type of hormone therapy. Not only do we tell you the cost of the actual treatment, but the other incidental charges most people forget about it like the number of trips you have to take to your doctor, blood tests, and the time you have to put in factor into the final cost.
Insurance companies do not yet cover BHRT pellets. That means you have to pay out-of-pocket, which is usually about $1,400 per year. This may seem like a scary number, but it is a very similar cost to other types of hormone therapies, even when the insurance company pays for most of it because the insurance doesnt pay for the additional travel, doctors visits, or copays.
What brings the cost into a reasonable range is that once you have the pellets, you dont have to worry about it again until your next office visit, which could be for 3 to 6 months apart.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy pellets are equivalent in price, much easier to use, specifically compounded for each persons needs, contains the most usable form of hormones, and have the fewest side effects. You can search for a doctor in your area who is trained and specializes in HTCA pellet therapy or contact us directly to get you set up.
Other Problems With Hormone Pellets
The issues with pellets do not stop at an increased risk of side effects. Another big problem with hormone replacement pellets is that your doctor cannot adjust the dose of your medication once inserted. There is no way to regulate your dosage if your needs change and they usually do throughout your therapy. With pellets, you could be receiving too much or too little hormone, with no way to adjust it without surgical removal and reinsertion of the pellet a risky and invasive procedure.
And finally, Hormone Therapy is not a one size fits all kind of solution. Each individual is different and can require different hormones or different combinations of hormones. The variety of doses and hormones available in pellet form is far more limited than in other HRT delivery methods, such as topical creams and gels.
How Does Biote Work
BioTE works using pellet therapy. Customized pellets will be created with a compound of hormones that treat your unique symptoms and needs. In this method, the hormone pellets are inserted just below the skin. . The hormones are then gradually absorbed by the body. Many patients enjoy the benefit of not needing to remember to take a pill or apply a topical cream daily. Instead, the hormones are released by the pellets as needed over a course of 3-4 months and the entire pellet will be absorbed, leaving nothing behind. Patients often report feeling symptom relief within the first few weeks, and sometimes in as little as hours after their BioTE treatment. After 3-4 months, pellet therapy can be repeated with another series of treatments.
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What Is A Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Pellet Therapy
Of the different types of hormone replacement therapies, pellets are the next wave of HRT and the better, cost-effective treatment. We want to share with you today the benefits of using pellet therapy with bioidentical hormone replacement, and why its superior to more traditional uncommon forms of HRT.
Who Shouldn’t Take Bioidentical Hormones
Using any type of hormone therapy is a decision made between you and your healthcare provider after carefully weighing the risks and benefits. Bioidentical hormones have been controversial, and many are not FDA-approved, but that doesn’t mean your healthcare provider will rule them out as a treatment option.
If you’ve had or are at high risk for the following conditions, hormone therapy may not be safe:
- Memory loss or confusion.
Replacing these lost or low hormones is the goal of bioidentical hormone therapy or conventional hormone therapy. Once hormone levels are increased, most people see their symptoms improve. However, there is not much evidence to support that bioidentical hormones are equal to conventional hormone therapy. Your healthcare provider can discuss your options for hormone replacement with you based on your symptoms and health history.
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Are Compounded Bioidentical Hormones Bad
There are risks to taking compounded bioidentical hormones, but in some cases, they may be a better choice. Compounded bioidentical hormones are not FDA-approved. They are not tested for safety or effectiveness. Many major medical groups do not support using them because not enough is known about their safety and long-term side effects.
Hormone Pellet Therapy Side Effects
As effective as this method might be, patients must be aware of hormone pellet therapy side effects as they do occur more commonly than with other routes of hormone administration. Some of the side effects specific to hormone pellet therapy are as follows:
- Extrusion: This is a spontaneous expulsion of the pellet from its implanted site. Not ideal since it is painful and each one costs money. When this occurs it would require another surgical procedure and pellet insertion. It occurs in about 5-12% of patients.1,2,3
- Infection: While this is easily avoided by using proper technique, this has been found to occur in 1.4-6.8% of patients. It may also occur simultaneously with extrusion.1,2,3
- Scar formation: Over time and with multiple implantations, scar formation can develop at the implantation site. There is really no way to avoid this.
- No Recourse: Once the pellets are inserted you cannot take them out easily. They are placed in the tissue just below the skin. However finding the exact location of the pellet once it is not very precise. So if you don’t feel well from the pellets many times you are just stuck with them until they wear off leaving you with very little recourse.
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Do Bioidentical Hormones Cause Weight Gain
Yes, weight gain is a side effect of bioidentical hormones.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Bioidentical hormones are used to help people manage symptoms of menopause or other hormonal imbalances. The FDA does not approve some bioidentical hormones. All hormone replacement therapy comes with risks. Compounded bioidentical hormones may come with more risk because their effects are not well studied. Talk to your healthcare provider about the pros and cons of hormone replacement. Most importantly, know that you do not need to live with unpleasant symptoms of low hormones. Your provider can help safely manage your symptoms.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/15/2022.
References
Highs And Lows Of Testosterone Dosing
Creams, gels, buccal tablets, nasal spray , underarm solution , and patches are all easy to self-administer, but they have to be done daily.
You also run the risk of accidentally exposing women and children to contact with excessive amounts of testosterone.
Injections can last longer and dont present the contact problems these other methods do. However, irritation can occur at the injection site. You have to go to a healthcare provider or learn to inject yourself.
Some of the negative side effects of TRT are due to the highs and lows of testosterone dosage with conventional administration methods.
With testosterone injections in particular, testosterone levels can start off very high and then become very low before the next injection occurs. This can result in a rollercoaster-like series of changes in mood, sexual activity, and energy levels.
These high peaks of testosterone exposure can lead to testosterone being broken down and converted into estradiol, an estrogen. This excess estrogen can potentially lead to breast growth and tenderness.
Other side effects of TRT may include:
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What Is Pellet Therapy
Hormone Pellet Therapy is an all-natural bio-identical hormone replacement therapy that specializes in the use of subcutaneous testosterone and estradiol pellets. This small pellet about the size of a TicTac is inserted under the skin. The pellet delivery method allows for the continual release of the hormone the key to improving brain and muscle function. Other delivery methods result in sporadic, or a roller coaster, effect in the delivery and release of hormones within the body. These methods include pills, patches, injectables, and creams.
This method was first used in 1937 in England and Australia. The use of biologically identical, non-synthetic testosterone and estradiol is safe, and the use of pellets provides an effective delivery method.
Literature shows that the use of pellets and all natural testosterone carries less risk compared to synthetic testosterone. We use a science based approach to prescribing the patient the appropriate amount of testosterone and/or estradiol based on specific factors about the individual and their blood analysis. This results in achieving physiologic hormonal balance – something research has shown is absolutely vital to good health and well-being. Of all hormonal replacement modalities, only pellet therapy can provide this balance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Expert Champions Study Results With Emphasis On Risks Of Pelleted Hormones
Nanette Santoro, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine says that this study helps us to understand the concerns about using non-FDA approved hormones. And, raises the need for women to discuss the risks as well as the potential benefits of pelleted bioidentical hormones BEFORE committing to their use.
The legal loophole through which these treatments have slipped, allowing them to be considered dietary supplements, means that no one has any reason to study their safety and efficacy before marketing them.
The FDA steps in only when there is evidence of harm, says Dr. Santoro something that has happened only three times in 25 years or if there someone complains that a company is making false claims. In other words, theres no real monitoring system. Most suppliers can say what they like, and Im sure they are experts on how to exactly phrase some of the more impressive claims that allude to anti-aging effects without incurring the wrath of the FDA or any other regulator.
There is no standardization in the manufacture of these products, Dr. Santoro tells EndocrineWeb, so if they are prescribed, a patient could have irregular absorption, or there could be more or less hormone than what is stated on the label, and no one is any the wiser.
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Legitimate Health Concerns Demonstrated In Women Taking Pelleted Hrt
In this study, Xuezhi Jiang, MD, PhD, and his colleagues examined the medical records of postmenopausal women who were patients at the Reading Hospital in Pennsylvania. Their goal was to compare serum levels of estradiol and total testosterone in women who had taken bioidentical pellet hormone therapy compared with women who used regular hormone therapy. The women who received hormones by solid pellet had it inserted under the skin. Dr. Jiang is an obstetrician-gynecologist and associate professor of medicine at Jefferson Medical College, in Reading, Pennsylvania.
The researchers were surprised by their findings they reported that the mean serum estradiol and total testosterone levels for women using pellet therapy were 237.7 pg/mL and 192.84 pg/mL, respectively, compared to 93.45 pg/mL and 15.59 pg/mL in women receiving traditional hormone therapy.¹ These high levels of hormones can be very concerning, Dr. Jiang tells EndocrineWeb.
Pellet therapy users also had significantly higher incidences of negative side effects, he says. Among the issues reported by the women who had pelleted hormones were: abnormal bleeding, mood swings and anxiety, breast tenderness, changes in hair patterns, acne, and weight gain.¹
Okay Whats The Scoop Are Hormone Pellets Bad For You
Hormone pellets have been used for over 80 years and are completely safe. Each pellet is naturally used by the body at its own pace to help your body establish balance. Hormone pellet therapy has many benefits, including increased sex drive, reduced body fat storage, and improved energy, among many other symptoms of imbalance.
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How Is Bht Administered
Bio-identical hormone pellets come in various strengths from a highly rated commercially licensed compounding pharmacy. The hormones are derived from an ingredient found in many vegetables, particularly yams. Testosterone is placed using time released pellets inserted into body fat. The pellets are very small, usually painless to insert, and provide a steady hormone level for months. Bio-identical hormones cannot be swallowed as a pill. The digestive process will inactivate the hormone. Any hormone drugs that can be taken by mouth are NOT bio-identical.
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.
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What Alternatives To Hormone Pellet Therapy Are Available
Thankfully, there are alternatives to hormone pellets that are safer and more effective. We understand that hormone replacement therapy is not a one size fits all procedure. Hormones should be custom-tailored to each individual, since we all have different bodies, needs, and goals. Moreover, delivery methods should also be varied.
At NuLife Institute, we offer a wide array of alternatives to hormone pellet therapy.
Learn More Here:
Both men and women can benefit from hormone replacement therapy, as this is effective treatment option especially in menopausal women. It also helps in overcoming health issues related to age-related hormone decline. We prefer to offer hormones that come in the form of gels, creams, injections, and sublinguals as alternatives. These are much safer and have far less side effects than hormone pellets. With topical forms of hormone therapy such as gels and creams, dosage adjustment is much easier and non-invasive.
What Is Pellet Therapy In Missouri City Tx
Hormone imbalances can happen to both men and women at any point during their lifetime. Everything from illnesses to poor nutrition to stress can affect hormone levels. Depending on the cause and the symptoms you are experiencing, you may first receive a topical or oral hormone. Of course, our medical team understands that not everyone responds well to synthetic hormones. This is why we offer pellet therapy, which uses natural components that are biologically identical to natural hormones so they are less likely to cause unpleasant side effects.
Getting pellet therapy is actually rather simple. The hormones are placed in a pellet that is only a bit larger than a grain of rice. Once the pellet is inserted under the skin it will gradually release the proper amount of hormones to correct the imbalance over several months. Since pellets are inserted under the skin, we will first apply a local anesthesia to the area to numb the skin prior to making a small incision in either the hip or the butt. Once the incision has been made the pellet will be implanted and the incision will be closed up.
Of course, these pellets are not designed to last forever so they will need to be removed and replaced every few months. For women, pellets should be replaced every three to four months while men should get replacements every five to six months.
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Precautions For For Pellet Hormone Replacement
There are various types of hormone replacement therapies including skin creams and gels, skin patches, nasal sprays, vaginal ring, pills, and pellet. Each of them comes with their own set of side effects and pellet hormone replacement therapy is no exception. Therefore, it is important to take precautions prior to undergoing therapy.
Before undergoing pellet therapy, be sure to plan for the following:
Why Do Women Consider Pellet Hormone Therapy
At Minnesota Women’s Care we believe in providing the best care based on each woman’s unique needs. For women suffering from hot flashes, emotional ups and downs, decreased sex drive, deteriorating bone conditions and all the negative consequences of hormone deficiencies, Hormone Pellet Therapy provides a great answer that restores quality of life. It is this desire to get back to life that makes women consider pellet hormone therapy and to continue with it once they experience relief.
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One Patient’s Experience With Hormone Pellet Therapy
I found Dr. Ashford and MN Women’s Clinic out of necessity. I was experiencing horrible menopause symptoms and couldn’t find relief anywhere. My regular doctor told me “Well, that’s just the way it goes. Could last up to 10 years…” and when I told her I wasn’t sleeping more than a couple hours per night she gave me an RX for Ambien with a strict warning of addiction. I couldn’t imagine that the next 10 years of my life would be like this – no sleep, no libido, weight gain, night sweats/hot flashes. Dr. Ashford was the first doctor to tell me that I wasn’t crazy – my levels were way too low for a woman my age .
I nearly cried with relief that someone could actually do something for me! I had my first Hormone Pellet Therapy on this date – and about 5 days later I started feeling better, sleeping, hot flashes stopped…and within 10 days all my other symptoms ceased as well.
I’ve since been back to MN Women’s care and have seen other providers in his office for subsequent injections, and I have had great experiences with all of them. I refer all my friends to him and this office as well. I feel like I’ve lived a miracle!