Hormone Pellet Therapy uses hormone pellets. Bioidentical hormones from plants are released by implants known as hormone pellets under the skin. Using oestrogen, testosterone, or a mix of hormones, hormone pellet therapy replaces or controls the hormones in both males and females. Compounded hormones are a combination of hormones made especially for a person at a pharmacy or laboratory.
Hormone pellet therapy is one option for treating menopause symptoms in females. The procedure may be used by transgender people to enhance or suppress particular sex features. The advantages and potential hazards of hormone pellet therapy are examined in this article.
What are Hormone Pellet Therapy?
A medical expert implants hormone pellets under the skin as implants. Bioidentical hormones are released by them. The hormones that the human body generates are similar to bioidentical hormones, which are hormones derived from plants.
Many hormone pellets are mixed together. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved these compounded bioidentical hormone pellets as a form of treatment.
The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) advised the FDATrusted Source that there is insufficient data to support the safety and efficacy of compounded hormone therapy, which is why this is the case.
There are, however, assertions that this type of hormone therapy is both more effective and safe than FDA-approved medications. The hormones estradiol, estrone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and testosterone can all be found in bioidentical compounded hormones. The hormone pellets can be produced with a doctor’s prescription at a lab or drugstore. The pellets resemble rice grains in size.
Advantages:
Little scientific proof exists to back up the advantages of hormone pellet therapy. Compound pellet therapy is not governed by the FDA, and it is not approved. The makers of hormone pellet therapy claim that the procedure has a number of advantages. These consist of:
- Reducing the effects of menopause
- Strengthening low sex drive
- Boosting vitality and mood
- Lowering body fat defending against diseases including heart disease and osteoporosis
An Additional Benefit of a Pellet Distribution Method Can Be:
Direct bloodstream absorption of hormones, bypassing the liver and gastrointestinal system’s control over hormone release, enables the body to absorb more or less hormones as and when it needs them. There is no need to wear patches, use topical creams or gels every day, or take oral medication.
A 2019 article claims that bioidentical hormones are identical to the hormones that naturally occur in the body in terms of chemical structure. According to anecdotal evidence, compounded hormones can offer tailored therapy based on a person’s symptoms and hormone levels. The usefulness or safety of this medication, however, are not backed by scientific data.
The FDA-Approved Hormone Treatment that the ACOG Suggests Includes:
Systemic estrogen therapy may be the most effective treatment for night sweats and hot flashes, whether it is used with or without progestin.
Estrogen therapy using both systemic and local estrogen may help with vaginal dryness.
Systemic estrogen may help prevent osteoporosis and protect against bone loss that might happen after early menopause.
Negative effects
The levels and types of hormones that the hormone pellets contain will determine the potential negative effects.
People who have taken large dosages of testosterone over an extended period of time tend to experience negative effects more frequently. High testosterone levels in women can lead to:
Male pattern baldness caused by high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol disproportionate amounts of hair growth on the face, chest, back, and stomach irritation
Side effects
The following possible side effects are listed on the prescription label for one kind of pellet containing the hormone estradiol:
- Changes in menstrual-period-like pains that include bleeding or spotting from the vagina
- Breast discomfort or enlargement, or nipple yeast infection secretion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pains
- Bloating
- Cholestatic jaundice
- Colour of the skin
- Eye movements
- Headaches
- Headache wooziness
- Weight modifications for chorea
- Alterations in libido
Safety
Bioidentical hormone therapy is thought by some to be more reliable and secure than other types of hormone therapy. However, this assertion is not well supported by data from randomized controlled trials.
The FDA has approved some bioidentical hormones, but the FDA does not oversee compounded hormones, according to the ACOG.
Compounded hormone therapy is an individualized hormone combination made by a pharmacy per a doctor’s prescription. The combination of hormones may depend on the person’s blood or salivary hormone levels.
The FDA does not approve these medications because it is not possible to test individual mixes of hormones to see how the body responds.
There may be risks with compounded hormones because the strength and purity of the drugs can vary. This means that people may be unaware of the levels of hormones they are receiving.
The ACOG recommends FDA-approved hormone therapy rather than compounded hormone therapy.
How Much Do Menopause Hormone Pellets Cost?
Depending on the provider, hormone pellet therapy might range in price, but on average it may cost around $1,536 annually.
Hormone therapy that has received FDA approval may be covered by health insurance, although different plans may offer varying levels of coverage. Due to the fact that compounded bioidentical hormone therapy is not FDA-approved, most insurance companies are unlikely to pay it.
Discuss your individual symptoms and health issues with your doctor to determine whether hormone therapy is the best course of treatment for you. Continue the conversation throughout your menopause.
As scientists gain more knowledge about hormone pellet treatment and other menopausal medications, recommendations may alter. Consult your doctor frequently to discuss treatment options if you are experiencing bothersome menopausal symptoms.
Don’t wait to discover more about hormone pellet therapy and all the benefits it might have to offer.
Summary:
Pellet therapy keeps the body’s hormones flowing normally, preventing the negative effects. For patients who prefer not to have synthetic hormones injected into their bodies, this method is suitable because the delivered hormones are sourced from nature.
Hormone replacement treatment (HRT) typically has more advantages than disadvantages. Recent research indicates that there is extremely little chance that HRT will cause major side effects. Older research that revealed the possible hazards of HRT caused many people hesitant to use or recommend it.
Hormone therapy helps lessen menopause symptoms. However, if used for an extended period of time, it carries a number of major hazards. Despite increasing the risk of cardiovascular illness (heart and blood vessel disorders) and breast cancer, the medication lessens the risk of bone fractures.
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