

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HORMONE PELLET THERAPY
Bioidentical hormone therapy pellets are custom-compounded estradiol or testosterone pressed into small, solid cylinders similar to a large grain of rice. Pellet production is highly regulated by the FDA.
EvexiPEL Certified providers source pellets from Faramkeio, one of the leading 503B FDA-registered compounding pharmacies in the country. Each pellet is carefully compounded to the exact dose prescribed by your practitioner to meet your body's unique needs and facilitate optimal absorption of your prescribed therapy.
Patients who seek hormone therapy are often seeking relief from uncomfortable symptoms of hormone imbalance including hot flashes, night sweats, hair loss, insomnia, weight gain, brain fog, low energy, moodiness, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, and more. With pellet therapy, patients experience relief of these symptoms as well as additional benefits, such as improved libido, mental focus, and reduced risk of disease,
The primary goal of hormone therapy is to address the root cause of these symptoms-hormone imbalance-and reach a state of hormone optimization.
Pellets deliver consistent levels of hormone for 3 to 5 months in women and 4 to 6 months in men. Pellets mimic the slow, steady release of hormones naturally produced by the body, therefore reducing side effects commonly observed with other delivery methods and improving overall outcomes, including relieving symptoms of hormone imbalance.
Unlike patches, pills, creams, or injections, pellets are highly convenient. Once inserted, the pellets begin to dissolve delivering a steady state of hormone to your body. With pills or creams, there is always the forgetting or applying too much or too little of the product.
Injections often give higher doses at the beginning of each cycle and taper off sharply before the next injection. Patches are often unsightly or fall off before the cycle is complete. These features lead to drastic changes in your hormone levels that can impede relief or cause other side effects. With pellets, most patients experience hormone optimization within two insertions and enjoy complete symptom
relief as well as other benefits.
The steady rate of delivery is a key feature in supporting reduced risk of some diseases, while also optimizing overall health. When administered correctly, pellet therapy does not contribute to an increased risk of blood clots that are commonly experienced with other forms of hormone replacement therapy.
Pellet therapy is a longstanding, effective form of hormone therapy, dating back to the early 1930s. Patients who have experienced negative side effects or poor outcomes with other forms of hormone therapy are often successful with pellet therapy.
To prepare for your first pellet insertion, you should be up to date on routine screenings for your age and gender:
. Mammogram
. Pap Smear
. PSA Test
The appointment takes around 15 to 30 minutes and will involve a minor incision near the upper buttocks/hip area. The area may be sore for a few hours after the procedure. You will need to abstain from certain activities, such as strenuous exercise for several days post-procedure to ensure your incision heals properly.
To prepare for your first pellet insertion, you should be up to date on routine screenings for your age and gender:
. Mammogram
. Pap Smear
. PSA Test
The appointment takes around 15 to 30 minutes and will involve a minor incision near the upper buttocks/hip area. The area may be sore for a few hours after the procedure. You will need to abstain from certain activities, such as strenuous exercise for several days post-procedure to ensure your incision heals properly.
After insertion, you may experience soreness and light bruising at the incision site. Patients should refrain from strenuous activity for several days after insertion to facilitate healing and prevent the possibility of extrusion.
The EvexiPEL method of insertion and the proprietary pellets sourced from Farmakeio, a 503B FDA-certified outsourcing pharmacy, reduce healing time, minimize bruising, and require less downtime.
Patients may begin to notice symptom relief with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy within days to a few weeks after insertion. Most women experience improvement of at least one symptom within 72 hours of their first insertion, while men often see improvement of one or more symptoms within two weeks. The greatest improvements are most often observed in men and women after their second pellet insertion.
Optimal results are best achieved when paired with a healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet and routine exercise.
Hormone therapy begins with a complete lab evaluation to assess your health and hormone status. Using this information, your practitioner will develop a treatment plan. Your labs and symptoms will continue to be assessed prior to future insertions over the first several months of your treatment plan to evaluate outcomes and achieve optimization.
During your treatment plan, men will need to maintain recommended routine PSA screenings with their primary care physician and women will need to continue with recommended routine screenings with their primary care physician, including mammograms and gynecological exams.
Insertion schedules vary by individual. Various factors impact the rate at which the pellets dissolve. For most women, pellets will last 3 to 5 months, requiring approximately three to four visits per year. For most men, pellets will last 5 to 7 months, requiring two to three visits per year.
The cost of pellet therapy varies by individual, factoring in your personal prescription, gender, and how quickly your body metabolizes the pellet. On average, most patients will spend between $2 and $3 per day-less than most people pay for a daily cup of coffee.
The short answer is yes, women need testosterone too. Women natural produce some testosterone in the ovaries. And much like the other female sex hormones, levels of testosterone can diminish with age, childbirth, or may never reach optimization. Women who have low levels of testosterone may experience low sex drive, decreased mental clarity, weight gain, poor muscle tone, as well as other unwanted
side effects.
Testosterone pellet therapy offers women an opportunity to relieve these symptoms and experience other valuable benefits, such as reduced risk of disease.
The plant-based hormones used in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) have not been tied to an increased risk of cancer or blood clots, as is the case with some SYNTHETIC HORMONES.
Common side effects of standard hormone pellet insertions include minor bleeding or bruising at the insertion site, extrusion of the pellet, discoloration of the skin and infection. However, Dr. Terri DeNeui designed EvexiPEL pellets and the EvexiPEL Method to optimize the insertion process and heavily decrease the risk of those side effects that can sometimes occur at the pellet insertion site.
The most common side effects associated with BHRT pellets after the first insertion process include increased hair growth, acne, oily skin, fatigue and increased body fat as the body gets used to the therapy.