Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, or BHRT, is a form of hormone therapy that uses hormones that are structurally identical to those found within your body.
With Pellet Therapy, pellets are inserted into the upper buttocks area during an in-office visit after testing is done to determine the exact quantity of the hormone the patient requires. Every dose is customized based on a consultation and extensive lab work to ensure a patient receives the exact concentration of hormones needed.
Pellets last up to three to six months depending on gender, weight, absorption rates, and the amount of deficiency or surplus of hormones present within the patient at the time of insertion. Pellets are reinserted between two to four times per year to help keep hormones optimized and balanced and may take up to two insertions before feeling the full benefits.
During the in-office visit, which only takes a few minutes, patients are brought into the exam room, and the insertion site is numbed. The most common site of insertion is the upper buttocks. A small incision is then made for pellet insertion. Once the pellet is inserted, the insertion site is covered with a small bandage.
Since the pellets are bioidentical and contain hormones like those our body produces, pellets are completely dissolved and absorbed, leaving nothing behind.
Bioidentical hormone pellets will typically start working within 7-10 days after your pellet insertion.
Pain during the procedure is minimal. You will feel the initial stick of the needle where the numbing medication is injected. Then you may feel some pressure while the pellets are inserted. Insertion should only take about 3-5 minutes.
BioTE pellets are about the size of a grain of rice, therefore they are typically not felt under the skin. Immediately after the procedure, however, some patients may feel them due to minor swelling at the insertion site but this will subside after a few days.
Yes, you can continue using your birth control as normal. BioTE will help with hormone imbalance but will not prevent pregnancy.
