Pellet Hormone Therapy

Why choose bioidentical pellet hormone therapy?

For Both Men and Women Pellet Hormone Therapy Addresses:

• Mood Swings
• Diminishing Vitality
• Anxiety
• Sleeplessness
• Brain Fog
• Low Libido & Energy
• Thinning Hair
• Weight Issues

Pellets are far superior to bioidentical (BHRT) or Pharmaceutical hormone pills, patches and creams which deliver dosages that cannot align with your body’s daily needs. With hormone pellets you will always be in balance and feeling great because pellets are always available to deliver a perfect dose of what the body needs, every day.

Think of it like a reservoir. The hormones, which are about the size of rice and placed subcutaneously, are always available and when your body needs them it can go to the reservoir and fill up like one would fill a glass of water when thirsty. When the body is in balance there is no unnecessary dose as there would be with creams and pills which are taken in the same amount daily, regardless of your body’s actual hormone levels and needs. When you are stressed or generating the need for more hormones (as also happens with exercise) your hormone pellets are available for the body to access and find balance.

And with pellets you’ll begin to feel the positive physical and emotional effects of being in hormonal balance within two days.

Bioidentical hormone pellets have been used with great success in the U.S., Europe, and Australia since 1938. In fact, pellet implants were a very popular mode of hormone administration in the U.S. until the 1970s, when many synthetic oral and topical commercial products were developed by pharmaceutical companies. While the demand for pellets diminished in the U.S., pellet implants continued to be a very popular mode of hormone administration throughout Europe and Australia. In the last 10 years, due to advances made in processes and a better understanding of the benefits of pellet implants for hormone replacement, this mode of hormone therapy has grown in popularity in the U.S.

How Do You Know if your a candidate for Pellet Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Symptoms such as depression, low libido, brain fog, sleeplessness, muscle loss and low energy. Furthermore, conditions of aging like menopause and perimenopause in women can cause hot flashes, mood swings, and weight gain while even post-menopausal women experience symptoms including but not limited to hair loss, acne and low libido and irregular menstrual cycles.

Aging also has an effect on men known as andropause, which is caused by fluctuation of testosterone levels and causes many of the same symptoms. Testosterone replacement can restore your vitality, sex drive and have profound effects on your ability to retain muscle mass, cognition and energy levels.

Testosterone levels in men begin to decline in their 30’s. When they begin to show signs of testosterone deficiency men should get tested. Men in their 30’s can be testosterone deficient and show signs of bone loss, and most men need to be tested by around 50 years of age.

The first step in determining if your symptoms are the result of a hormonal imbalance and that you are a candidate for bio-identical pellet hormone replacement therapy is comprehensive lab testing.

Lab testing at KOI Wellbeing measures the current status of your natural hormones and your overall health and wellbeing. Our physicians will use the results of this lab testing along with your medical history and current symptoms to develop a treatment plan and determine if hormone replacement therapy is right for you.

When were pellets the first used for hormonal replacement?

Both men and women have been using pellet therapy since the late 1930’s. Pellets were commonly used in the United States from about 1940 through the early 80’s. There is actually more data that supports the use of pellets than any other hormone delivery method. Most of the research available on pellets come from England and Australia.

70+ years of research has illustrated the benefits of bioidentical hormone pellet implants in both women and men. Pellet implants deliver consistent, physiologic levels of hormones. Pellet dosing is individualized and calculated for each person for optimal results. Pellet implants bypass the liver and don’t negatively impact clotting factors, blood pressure, lipid levels, glucose, or liver function.

Why is everyone talking about Hormone Pellet Therapy?

• Pellet Hormone Therapy simplifies and optimizes hormone regulation: Unlike with pills, tablets or patches, pellet therapy leaves no room for user error. In essence you can get pelleted and forget any additional worry. Bioidentical hormone pellet therapy is the most convenient of all the other methods because it does not require the addition of a new daily routine.
• A more natural therapy than pharmaceuticals: The hormones used in pellet therapy are derived from natural plant sources and are chemically-identical to the hormones your body produces naturally.
• Greater Efficacy: Pelleting provides results for helping both men and women with age-related issues such as energy, mood, sleep cycle, vitality, strength and virility.
• Long lasting and less work and worry: A single pellet injection lasts for months, compared to the short duration of other delivery methods. With pellet therapy, natural hormones are present 24 hours a day, providing constant balance and benefits.
• Consistency: Unlike the “roller coaster” effect from other hormone delivery methods, the pellet therapy process gives you consistent hormone levels throughout the day that raise and lower themselves naturally.

Getting Started with Pellet Hormone Replacement:

Call or schedule you free initial consultation today. Your first meeting with a practitioner will take about 20 minutes. You’ll have an opportunity to discuss your health concerns and goals, and learn about the treatment and options.

If your healthcare provider determines you are a candidate for Pellet Hormone Replacement therapy she will order comprehensive functional lab tests that may also uncover other contributors to your complaints and help create a plan for optimal health.

Tet results are back in 24-48 hours so you’ll set a follow-up appointment shortly after your first visit to review the results.

What’s included in KOI Wellbeing’s Annual Pellet Therapy Package?

The KOI Wellbeing Annual Pellet Hormone Therapy Program with Dr. Deborah Wainwright is the best way to stay in balance and meet health goals beyond just hormone and thyroid balance. Here’s what’s included:

• Includes your initial comprehensive consultation with Dr. Wainwright
• Comprehensive functional lab testing 5 times annually for women and 4 times for men
• Four follow-up consultations with Dr. Wainwright
• Your prescribed bio-identical hormone pellet implants*
• Five B-12 Injections of our highest quality Methylcobalamin
• Bonus free Forever Young or Detox IV if you pay in full

The initial lab testing included in the package is a men’s or woman’s total wellness panel and measures vitamin levels, inflammation, cholesterol, thyroid function, blood sugar and more. With this information your physician can address your overall health and wellbeing in conjunction with your hormone levels. The included follow-up testing and consultations with the physician keep you optimized and on target for reaching your health goals.

The package keeps you on track and will give you peace of mind knowing that you are always in balance and being attended to by a healthcare provider that knows and cares about you.

*Your practitioner may prescribe progesterone as part of your treatment plan. Progesterone is not available in pellet form and purchased from a pharmacy.

What are Hormone Pellets?

Pellet implants are compounded using biologically identical hormones derived from the yam. The hormones are pressed into very small solid cylinders. Pellets are made up of either estradiol or testosterone. These pellets are larger than a grain of rice and smaller than a ‘Tic Tac’. In the United States, the majority of pellets are made by compounding pharmacists and delivered in sterile glass vials. There is a ‘FDA approved’ 75 mg testosterone pellet (often used in urology offices.) Currently Stanford Urology center uses testosterone implants.

How and where are pellets inserted?

Pellet insertion is a relatively simple in-office procedure done with local anesthesia. The pellets are inserted subcutaneously (into the fatty lining under the skin), in the upper buttocks through a very small incision (the size of an eraser head). The incision is then closed with sterile-tape strips. Typically, patients cannot feel the implants below their skin. Implants placed under the skin consistently release small, physiologic doses of hormones, which have been shown to have many benefits.

How long do the pellets last?

For women, pellets can last between 3 and 5 months, and 5-6 months for men. For some patients, some factors such as high levels of stress, physical activity, some medications and lack of sleep may increase the rate at which the pellets absorb and may require new pellets be inserted sooner.

Do the pellets need to be removed when it is time for new ones?

The pellets completely dissolve on their own and do not need to be removed.

What are the side effects or complications of pellets?

Complications from the insertion of pellets may include minor bleeding, bruising, or infection at the insertion site (infection is extremely rare). Testosterone stimulates the bone marrow and increases the production of red blood cells. A low testosterone level in older men is a cause of anemia. Testosterone, delivered by implants or other methods, can cause an elevation in the red blood cells. After the insertion of the implants, vigorous physical activity is avoided for 5 days in both men and women so the tiny incision can fully heal.

Do female patients need progesterone when they use the pellets?

Anytime you are prescribed estradiol, progesterone is also prescribed. Women have progesterone (not progestin) receptors in the bones, brain, heart, breasts, and uterus. Progesterone can be delivered as an oral capsule, tablet, or sublingual troche or fast burst tablet.

Is there the same danger of breast cancer with pellets as with other forms of hormone replacement?

No, pellets do not have the same risk of breast cancer like with high doses of oral estrogen (Premarin), that do not maintain the correct estrogen ratio or hormone metabolites. They also do not increase the risk of breast cancer like the synthetic, chemical progestins that were used in the Women’s Health Initiative Trial. Data, in fact, support that balanced hormones protect the breasts.

Take the next step and schedule your free initial consultation today. You’ll meet with one of our resident hormone practitioners for 20 to 30 minutes and have an opportunity to discuss your symptoms and health goals, ask questions and learn about treatment options. If it’s determined that you may be a candidate for hormone therapy your physician will order comprehensive whole health and wellbeing lab testing that includes hormone levels, thyroid function, inflammation markers, cardiology, endocrine function, vitamin and blood health markers and more. Oftentimes there is more going on than hormone imbalance and our KOI Wellbeing Healthcare Providers will use your comprehensive lab results to address all of your health needs and create a treatment plan tailored to your unique bioidentity that may include hormone therapy.

Make an Appointment today and enjoy life in good health!