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Pellet Therapy

young female patient smiling at female nurse

Bioidentical Hormone Pellet Therapy

Fort Sanders Women’s Specialists offers many options for relief of menopause symptoms and hormone deficiency. No single option will work for everyone – that’s why we value one-on-one care to find the best plan for you.

Bioidentical hormone pellet therapy, usually simply called pellet therapy, is the most natural way to replenish hormone levels for women and men. Implants placed under the skin consistently release small doses of bioidentical hormones like those found normally in your body. This method is simple, convenient and has one of the best safety records. Although we offer many bioidentical hormone replacement options, we believe pellets are often the optimal hormone replacement therapy. When hormones are absorbed rather than swallowed, they go directly to the tissues and are not altered by the liver.

Advantages

  • Hormones are absorbed directly into bloodstream, avoiding the liver and gastrointestinal system.
  • Hormones are continuously available. 
  • Your body controls release of hormones. For example, you absorb more during exercise and stress and less when you are at rest. 
  • Pellets typically last 3-5 months, providing convenience.
  • You avoid daily application of creams or gels.
  • Studies show this method to be best for mental clarity and sexual function.
  • Pellets are beneficial for bone density.

The pharmacies we use to compound pellets for our patients follow the strictest guidelines for safety and quality.

History of Pellet Therapy

Pellets for hormone replacement have been around since the late 1930s. However, their popularity declined starting in the 1950s with the growth of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry and the availability of the synthetic, oral hormone called Premarin. Premarin is derived from the urine of pregnant horses, which contains large quantities of estrogen-like chemicals. Premarin and the progestin Provera were the two hormones utilized in the Women’s Health Initiative study that linked certain forms of hormone replacement with an increased risk of blood clots, stroke and breast cancer. Fortunately, pellet therapy never went away, and it is now recognized as a safe and effective way to manage symptoms related to hormone deficiency.

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