Research consistently shows pellet implants offer the most effective method to deliver hormones in both men and women. Implanted in the fatty tissue under the skin, pellets release a constant stream of hormones into the body, most closely mimicking the way the body naturally releases hormones.

Convenience is also a big factor. With pellets, patients undergo the procedure two or three times per year and get on with their lives. Other modalities, like pills and messy creams, need to be used daily. Patches work a bit better, but the absorption of a skin-based delivery method is variable. Plus, we often lose sensitivity over time, which means patients will regularly need to find a new spot to apply the cream or adhere to the patch.

On average, pellet implants last 5 to 6 months in men (two visits per year) and 4 to 5 months in women (three visits per year). Since patients receive a topical anesthetic during the procedure, most can expect to experience little to no discomfort, during or after the procedure.

Although most people experience substantial benefits after the first round of therapy, many patients experience a more pronounced benefit after the second round of pellet implants. Therefore, we advised patients to have the procedure performed at least two times before expecting optimum results.

Remember, people don't get out of balance overnight, so it often takes a few months to get back on track.

Convenience is also a big factor. With pellets, patients undergo the procedure two or three times per year and get on with their lives. Other modalities, like pills and messy creams, need to be used daily. Patches work a bit better, but the absorption of a skin-based delivery method is variable. Plus, we often lose sensitivity over time, which means patients will regularly need to find a new spot to apply the cream or adhere to the patch.

Most female patients begin to feel better within 48 to 72 hours, though it may take a week or two for some women to notice a difference. Men can expect to experience the benefits of their pellet implants within one to two weeks. To achieve optimal health, living a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and regular exercise, goes hand-in-hand with hormone balancing.

We treat patients of all ages. The length of your treatment plan and therapy is directly related to how long do you want to look and feel your best.

During the initial consultation, we will discuss your health and wellness goals and conduct a thorough medical exam and testing to determine the root cause of your health problems. If hormone levels are imbalanced or other health issues are identified, we will create an integrated treatment plan.

Research repeatedly links hormone imbalance to an increase risk for cancer, osteoporosis, stroke, thyroid disorders, diabetes, heart disease, and other age-related disease processes.

During pre-menopause, menopause and andropause (the male version of hormone depletion), declining health is considered the norm. But feeling poorly doesn’t need to be normal, thanks to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and other treatments the Human Health Initiative may recommend.

Estrogen loss puts women at risk for premature ovary failure, osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, tooth loss, impaired vision, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes. These risks increase the longer a woman suffers from estrogen deficiency.

However, women also need testosterone. Imbalanced testosterone levels in women may compromise mental clarity, libido muscle tone and mass. The brain needs testosterone in balance with estrogen to produce serotonin, which supports emotional well-being.

Estrogen loss puts women at risk for premature ovary failure, osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, tooth loss, impaired vision, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes. These risks increase the longer a woman suffers from estrogen deficiency.

However, women also need testosterone. Imbalanced testosterone levels in women may compromise mental clarity, libido muscle tone and mass. The brain needs testosterone in balance with estrogen to produce serotonin, which supports emotional well-being.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is not a magic bullet for losing weight, however, when hormones are optimized, weight-loss efforts typically begin to pay off. We still need to eat a balanced diet and exercise and increasing energy levels will help in that area.

What bioidentical hormone replacement therapy may do is increase energy, improve the quality of sleep, increase muscle mass, and decrease cortisol to enhance your fat-burning ability.

Hormone imbalance and “low T” are by far the most common causes of sexual dysfunction in men and women. By balancing hormone levels with pellet therapy, many patients have experienced a return of or significant improvement to their sexual libido and function.

Testosterone contributes to healthy skin by aiding oil production, which allows skin to hold on to moisture. Skin can become dry and dull when testosterone is low.

In addition, testosterone is it natural blood vessel dilator, which facilitates blood flow to the skin. These two factors - moisture and blood flow - contribute to the vibrant complexion associated with youth.

For women, estrogen and collagen go hand-in-hand. Collagen naturally plumps the skin, so as estrogen declines, wrinkles, and sagging skin result. Prevention is key, so optimizing hormones as early as possible is essential to maintaining healthy, younger-looking skin.

Testosterone and estrogen can be supplemented in the form of pellets, but other hormones maybe out of balance too. Many of our patients also benefit from progesterone and thyroid optimization.

Complications from the insertion of pellets may include minor bleeding or bruising, discoloration of the skin, infection, and possible extrusion of the pellet. Other than slight bruising and skin discoloration, these complications are very rare.

The most common side effects are increased hair growth and possible skin breakouts with the first round of therapy because the body is becoming accustomed to increased oil production in the skin. We may recommend patients change their skin care regimen from heavy anti-aging products to lighter, oil-free skin care lines. Side effects may be avoided by decreasing hormone dosing on subsequent rounds of therapy.

There are currently no known health conditions that exclude a person from undergoing bioidentical hormone replacement therapy with pellet implants. The majority of people with hormone imbalance are a great candidate for this therapy. However, the Human Health Initiative takes an individualized approach based on the patient's medical history. We do modify our approach to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for patients who are estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer survivors and prostate cancer survivors.