Hormone Pellet Therapy

Hormone pellets are tiny pellets, about the size of a grain of rice, that are placed just under the skin in the fatty tissue of the buttocks. This is a quick, in-office procedure with very little down time.

The efficacy of the inserted pellet is 3-4 months. These pellets will eventually dissolve, and the insertion process will be repeated to maintain even, optimized hormone levels in the body. Dosing levels and re-insertion timeframes are calculated based on each individual patient’s needs, symptoms, medical history and underlying lab values.

Hormone Pellets can positively affect a variety of symptoms commonly associated with aging and hormone deficiency, including:

• Decreased energy
• Low libido
• Weight/muscle issues
• Insomnia
• Urinary leakage
• Vaginal dryness
• Low sexual satisfaction

Bioidentical hormones are a hormone replacement made from natural sources by a compounding pharmacy. Bioidentical hormones look chemically identical to the hormones your body produces and can be administered as creams, pills, injections and pellets.

Pellets are compressed hormones, roughly the size of a grain of rice, that are carefully prepared by a compounding pharmacy to contain specific amounts of hormones. Pellets generally contain testosterone or estrogen. At Age Management Center, we select specific types and amounts of hormones based on each patient’s individual needs.

For some, Hormone Pellet Therapy is an attractive way to balance hormones since it requires only one sub-dermal injection every 3-4 months. This is a beneficial treatment option for those who travel frequently, have a busy lifestyle or for those who have difficulty with injections or pills.

The therapy includes a quick, easy insertion of pellets into the sub-dermal layer—the area below the skin—on the upper area of the buttocks.

We begin by injecting a numbing medication to make the pellet insertion as pain-free as possible. Patients will feel a slight pinch from the numbing injection, but the medication gets to work quickly.

After the area is numb, a special tool is used to insert the pellets in the correct location, which has been selected for optimal absorption. Once the pellet is inserted, we place a steri-strip, or surgical tape, over the injection site. The steri-strip should remain over the injection site for three days.

Just like any treatment option, Hormone Pellet Therapy carries its own potential risks. We recommend patients limit their activity levels for the first 72 hours after the procedure to allow for the insertion site and pellets to heal properly.

In rare cases, pellets can “extrude” or revert back out of the insertion site. In this case, the area would be numbed again and pellets would be re-inserted. The patient should not feel the pellets over the next 3-4 months. Minimal bruising at the injection/insertion site is also common.

Some people experience different symptoms when receiving pellet hormone therapy. This occurs because bodies metabolize the treatment at different rates. If, over time, a patient has difficulty maintaining a baseline of hormone levels with pellet therapy, the Age Management Center staff can discuss a host of other bioidentical hormone treatment options available to you that may be more effective for your individual needs.