Of the different types of hormone replacement therapies, pellets are the next wave of HRT and the better, cost-effective treatment. We want to share with you today the benefits of using pellet therapy with bioidentical hormone replacement, and why it’s superior to more traditional uncommon forms of HRT.
BHRT Pellets
Bioidentical hormone replacement pellets are small, rice-sized pellets that are placed under the skin and release a specific measured amount of hormones over several months. Pellets are the only form of testosterone or estrogen hormone replacement therapy considered to be long-term and maintain their effectiveness twenty-four hours a day for several months.
The key to pellet therapy is the use of bioidentical hormones. These hormones are chemically structured to be identical to what the body produces. Therefore, the body recognizes the hormones as what it produces itself and uses them directly. The body does not have to expend energy to convert the hormones into a usable form, which can lead to side effects, like weight gain, and heart disease.
Synthetic hormones, primarily used in oral and injectable therapies, have several different side effects. Weight gain, mood swings, and general irritation are typical, which is unfortunate because that’s what HRT is supposed to solve.
Although some doctors believe bioidentical hormone replacement therapy isn’t viable, various studies have shown that consistency and the reduced side effects make the use of bioidentical hormones superior.
Why BHRT Pellets are Great!
People enjoy the benefits of hormone replacement therapy, and all the treatments available will provide similar benefits.
Pellet therapy is fast and easy and requires very few visits during the year for its application. It can last ten times longer than patches. This gives you peace of mind to know that you will get your hormone replacement consistently without having to worry about it.
And that consistency is critical. Because each pellet is compounded for a specific person, it releases the ideal amount of hormones consistently. Unlike other therapies, you don’t have highs and lows, which can lead to mood swings and increased risk of heart and liver problems.
Finally, other delivery methods have undesirable side effects. Problems range from liver issues to skin problems, and impaired sugar regulation. Pellet therapies show none of these.
What Are the Drawbacks of Hormone Pellets?
BHRT pellets contain very few side effects or drawbacks – only two minor ones.
First, because BHRT pellets last so long, people tend to forget they are there. Missing an appointment for receiving the next pellet is a possibility.
And secondly, some people find the skin over the pellets gets itchy. Frequently, an OTC moisturizing cream relieves the problem, with a few people having a persistent irritation.
Fortunately, these are the worst of the side effects. Pellet therapy is safe and effective. Because of the consistency, it helps minimize any weight gain. In most patients, they don’t experience any weight gain – quite the opposite; they lose weight as they become more energetic.
How Much Do Hormone Replacement Pellets Cost?
In this blog, we break down the cost of each different type of hormone therapy. Not only do we tell you the cost of the actual treatment, but the other incidental charges most people forget about it – like the number of trips you have to take to your doctor, blood tests, and the time you have to put in factor into the final cost.
Insurance companies do not yet cover BHRT pellets. That means you have to pay out-of-pocket, which is usually about $1,400 per year. This may seem like a scary number, but it is a very similar cost to other types of hormone therapies, even when the insurance company pays for most of it – because the insurance doesn’t pay for the additional travel, doctor’s visits, or copays.
What brings the cost into a reasonable range is that once you have the pellets, you don’t have to worry about it again until your next office visit, which could be for 3 to 6 months apart.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy pellets are equivalent in price, much easier to use, specifically compounded for each person’s needs, contains the most usable form of hormones, and have the fewest side effects. You can search for a doctor in your area who is trained and specializes in HTCA pellet therapy or contact us directly to get you set up.