Who is the best candidate for bioidentical pellets?
Any patient meeting the criteria for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in early menopause is a good candidate. Those who have had an unsatisfactory experience with other methods or do not accept the risks associated with oral hormone replacement are particularly good candidates. If you have not had a hysterectomy, it is critical to protect your endometrium from estrogen by taking progesterone. This can by accomplished with pills, a Mirena IUD, or by progesterone pellets.
What are the common risks of pellet placement?
Although rare, one can experience pain, acquire an infection, have bleeding/oozing at the implant site, have suboptimal results or expel the implanted pellet(s). If you have a preexisting uterine problem (i.e. endometrial polyps or fibroids), the pellets will likely expose it.
What are the benefits of estrogen replacement?
Ultimately, it reduces the effects of decreased estrogen like hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, chronic fatigue, feelings of anxiety and depression and sexual dysfunction. The benefits of pellets specifically include all of the above in addition to achieving a steady state of hormones, being extremely convenient, increasing done density the most, improving cholesterol and minimally affecting weight gain (if at all). There is also no good evidence linking estrogen pellets to breast cancer.
What are the risks of taking estrogen?
Estrogens have been shown to increase the following: incidence of breast and endometrial cancer, breast tenderness, nausea & vomiting, fluid retention, leg cramps, headaches, vaginal bleeding, clotting factors causing blood clots like DVTs & PEs and the incidence of strokes and/or heart attacks. However, all of these risks are reduced or eliminated by avoiding oral estrogen.
What are the benefits of testosterone?
Pellets are the only way to avoid spikes and to reproduce steady physiologic levels over 3 to 4 months. Testosterone pellets improve the following: bone & muscle strength, depressive symptoms, cognition, cholesterol, libido, energy level & stamina, mood & sense of well-being and lean muscle mass. They decrease adipose tissue and cardiovascular risks.
What cost is associated with pellet(s) implantation?
With todays high copays and deductibles, the cost of hormone pellets can be surprisingly cost effective, not to mention convenient. As our cost of pellets continue to change, you will need to call the office to inquire about current pricing.
Is it covered by insurance?
For the indications used in this office, pellet implantation is viewed as investigational by the insurance industry and therefore is not covered by commercial insurances. Although each hormone used is individually FDA approved, the use of subcutaneous pellets are not approved.