Hormones tend to get a bad rap for both men and women. People blame hormones when someone is being emotional or irrational.
In reality, hormones are a critical component of your body and they serve many different functions. It’s an imbalance like a lack of hormones that creates a problem.
Whether you have a natural imbalance or you’re missing hormones because of your age, hormone replacement therapy or HRT could be the solution to feeling like yourself again.
To find out, start by learning about the pros and cons of hormone pellets: one of the newcomers on the scene.
What Are Hormone Pellets?
A hormone pellet is a small pellet about the size of a grain of rice, though they vary in size. These pellets contain bioidentical hormones found naturally in plant material. Bioidentical hormones are hormones in the exact same form that you’d find them in your body.
A skilled medical professional implants these pellets under your skin. Over the course of several months, the pellets release a steady level of replacement hormones into your system. As this occurs, the pellet dissolves so you don’t need to remove it.
The Pros of Hormone Pellets
Hormone pellets are one of the newer options for HRT, but there is a reason they’re becoming popular. They offer several unique advantages you wouldn’t get from alternatives like pills and creams.
1. Consistent Delivery
Pills and creams can have a rollercoaster-like effect. When you first take the medication, you have high levels of hormones in your system.
As the clock ticks on, those levels drop lower and lower. By the time you take the medication again, your hormones have reached a low point and then they jump back up with the next dose.
This means that your hormone-related symptoms could do the same thing. You may feel great in the first few hours after taking each dose, then feel your symptoms rise as the dosage fades.
Hormone pellets, on the other hand, release a steady and consistent flow of hormones.
2. Easy Use
Remembering to use a pill or cream every day isn’t always easy. Hormone imbalances often affect people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. When you’re in the middle of managing a career, raising a family, and maintaining a household, medicine is easy to forget.
With an implanted pellet, though, there’s nothing to forget. Your medical provider implants the pellet and then it works its magic for months before you need a replacement. Of course, the exact timing will depend on your body’s metabolism and your needs.
3. High Success Rate
There is no hormone replacement method that works the same for everyone because each of our bodies is unique. However, hormone pellets have consistently brought high satisfaction ratings from patients.
For example, in one study, 95% of patients using pellets were satisfied with their treatment. That’s far higher than the 75% of patients using injections and the 62% of patients using a gel.
The Cons of Hormone Pellets
As much of a breakthrough as hormone pellets have been for many people, there are always downsides to consider.
1. Requiring a Minor Surgery
In a technical sense, your pellet implantation is a surgery. It’s a very minor surgery that uses local numbing instead of general anesthesia, and the incision is tiny, but it’s still surgery.
This is a deterrent for some patients because it requires scheduling the procedure, which can be challenging with a busy calendar. The procedure also requires that you take precautions for several days like limiting your exercise regimen.
2. Limited Customizations
As we mentioned above, every person’s body and hormone imbalance is unique. As a result, some people will need higher doses of hormones from their pellets than others.
So far, there are no completely customizable hormone pellets that are FDA-approved. This means you may need to supplement your pellets with other types of hormones in different forms.
With that in mind, there are still ways your healthcare provider can customize your treatment with pellets. They can implant multiple pellets if you need a higher dosage. They can also monitor your hormone levels to see how often you need a new pellet implantation.
Tips for Trying Hormone Pellets
If you’re struck by the advantages of hormone pellets, you may be a candidate for the innovative treatment. If you want to give it a try, begin with these tips.
1. Start With a Provider You Trust
Your medical provider will play an important part in your pellet therapy. They will customize your dosage, perform the procedure, and monitor your results.
To get the best results from your treatment, you need a medical professional who specializes in hormone replacement therapy. Be sure your provider also has direct experience with pellets and can advise you about how to move forward.
2. Take a Customized, Holistic Approach
Your hormone imbalance could involve several hormone disturbances. Not all of the hormones you need may be available in a pellet.
It’s important to begin your journey by asking your provider for lab testing. This will evaluate your hormone levels and get to the root of your symptoms. Instead of playing a dosage guessing game, your provider can customize a treatment plan for your exact needs.
Understanding the Pros and Cons of Hormone Pellets
For people of varying ages and with a range of hormone-related symptoms, hormone pellets can be the key to feeling like themselves again.
It all starts with knowing the pros and cons of hormone pellets and working with a specialist to determine the best choice for you.
To take the first step toward a happier, healthier life, schedule a free hormone replacement consultation with our specialized, experienced team.