Headaches, hot flashes, mood swings, and night sweats—menopause can creep up on you or hit you like a freight train. For some, vague symptoms start years before menstruation ends, slowly taking a toll on your quality of life. For others, the change is more sudden but equally disconcerting—you no longer feel like yourself. When menopause symptoms threaten to derail your aspirations, challenge your productivity, and interfere with your relationships, you have options.
Bioidentical hormone pellet therapy is a unique treatment method that was created to mimic the body’s natural production of ovarian hormones. With an emphasis on convenience, implantable pellets relieve you of the burden of taking pills or applying creams or patches to maintain hormonal balance. But is it safe?
Weighing potential hormone pellet side effects against the benefits is vital to making smart treatment decisions. Being well-informed will allow you to work with your doctor to find the best approach and regain your vitality.
Hormone Pellets for Menopause Symptoms
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) offers an alternative to conventional synthetic hormone therapy. These hormones are chemically engineered from yams by compounding pharmacies to match the endogenous hormones (produced by your own body) and your precise dosage needs. Today, more than 30% of women in the United States opt for BHRT over standardized medications, and they are often prescribed by practitioners who offer supportive, comprehensive care.
Though BHRT is available in multiple formats, implantable pellets offer an attractive alternative to daily hormone dosing that many women prefer. Subcutaneous (under the skin) hormone pellets are solid pellets just larger than a grain of rice. These are inserted through a tiny incision on the lower abdomen or the hip in a doctor’s office on an outpatient basis. The procedure is performed under a local anesthetic that numbs the area, and no stitches are required.
Your symptoms and baseline hormone levels will determine the number of pellets implanted. As the pellets break down, they release a small, steady amount of hormone which is absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, it travels to hormone receptors throughout the body, just as your own hormones do. This helps to restore hormone levels and calm the troublesome symptoms of menopause. Usually, you notice effects within a few days to a few weeks.
Understanding the Benefits vs Hormone Pellet Side Effects
Understanding the unique beneficial aspects of hormone pellet therapy and the possible side effects is essential for any woman considering this treatment approach.
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Once implanted, hormone pellets cannot be easily removed. For this reason, it’s important to seek out a specialist in menopause hormone management. Selecting the proper hormones and the correct number of pellets to provide symptom relief without exceeding the necessary dose requires a skilled and experienced practitioner.
Recent Innovations Improve Outcomes
Though hormone pellets have been in use for almost 100 years, recent innovations have increased successful outcomes, improving both patient and practitioner satisfaction.
The common hormone pellet side effects involve insertion site discomfort and inflammation. This can manifest as swelling and scar tissue build-up and may result in suboptimal absorption of the hormone. In rare cases, it leads to pellet extrusion through the skin.
To address this, EVEXIAS has developed a proprietary pellet formulation that reduces post-implantation inflammation and significantly decreases hormone pellet side effects. These pellets contain:
- Bioidentical hormones (testosterone, estrogen, and/or progesterone)
- Binders to hold the pellets together
- Lubricating agents to promote absorption
- Low-dose triamcinolone, a type of steroid hormone that has anti-inflammatory action
The inclusion of trace amounts of triamcinolone suppresses the body’s immune and inflammatory response at the implant site. This minimizes the chances of implant rejection, promotes healing, and decreases the risk of insertion site side effects. As a result, optimal absorption is supported and pellet extrusion drops by 50%.
Finding Your Solution
The key to finding the best form of BHRT is to find the right doctor. Partnering with an expert in hormonal health and menopause is a major step toward achieving your treatment goals. If the convenience and long-term efficiency of bioidentical hormone pellets appeal to you, look for a practitioner who specializes in pellet therapy and has performed many pellet implantations. Together, you can assess whether you are a good candidate for BHRT and discuss any hormone pellet side effects that may be of particular concern. With their guidance, you can get started on feeling like yourself again.
