Look Better, Feel Better with Bio-Identical Hormone Pellet Therapy

Hormone deficiencies are one of the leading causes of accelerating the aging process and can cause chronic diseases and makes you feel older than you are.

Data supports that hormone replacement therapy with pellet implants is the most effective and the most bio-identical method to deliver hormones in both men and women. Implants, placed under the skin, consistently release small, physiologic doses of hormones providing optimal therapy.

Bio-identical hormones are plant-based hormones that are biologically identical to human hormones.

For women, benefits may include:

• Improved mood
  
• Better sleep
  
• Improved bone density
  
• Improved mental clarity
  
• Decrease in hot flashes
  
• Decrease in night sweats
  
• Decrease in moodiness
  
• May help with depression and anxiety
  
• Less fatigue and low energy levels
  
• Fewer headaches
  
• Libido issues
  
• Weight gain
  

 For men, the benefits may include:

• Increase in muscle strength and lean muscle
  
• Increase in sexual desire
  
• Decrease in fatigue
  
• Improvement of libido
  
• Improvement of mental acuity
  
• Improvement to dry skin
  
• Improved control of diabetes
  
• Increase in muscle mass
  
• Decrease problems with anxiety and depression
  
• Decrease with problems with erectile dysfunction
  
• Fewer headaches
  
• Decrease in fatigue and low energy
  

Symptoms of Decreased Hormones

• Depression/mood swings
  
• Anxiety, nervousness
  
• Hot flashes/flushes
  
• Night sweats
  
• Urinary leakage
  
• Vaginal dryness
  
• Sleep disturbances
  
• Muscle loss
  
• Fatigue
  
• Concentration issues
  
• Loss of libido/orgasm
  
• Joint pain
  
• Brain fog
  
• Weight gain
  

Are Bio-Identical Hormones Safe?
Bio-identical hormones are safe and effective. Several studies have shown that bio-identical testosterone therapy reduces the risk of prostate cancer. Even for patients with prostate cancer, studies show that bio-identical hormone therapy does not increase the risk of cancer progression. Recent studies indicate that men who have low testosterone levels are at higher risk for prostate cancer. Bio-identical progesterone has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer, while the synthetic hormone progestin increases the risk of breast cancer. The goal of hormone therapy is to restore the hormones to an optimal state based on science. Your individualized program is based upon your lab work and physical condition.

Why not use synthetic hormones?
Synthetic hormones are similar but not identical to the body’s hormones. Some synthetic hormones, such as Premarin, are made from pregnant horse urine. Horses produce over 35 different estrogen molecules, but not one of them is the same as estrone, estradiol, or estriol, the three human estrogens. The difference between synthetic hormones and the human body’s own hormone receptors lead to increased risks and side effects. The risks associated with synthetic hormone replacement (HRT) came to the forefront when The Women's Health Initiative study of 2002 showed a significant increase in the risk of heart disease and cancer with the use of HRT. Moreover, because synthetic hormones come in prepackaged dosages, they cannot be individualized to the needs of each patient. Bio-identical hormones, on the other hand, are individually compounded at specific doses for each patient, allowing for a more personalized hormone treatment. And, because bio-identical hormones are identical in structure to hormones already found in the body, the potential risks and side effects are minimized.

What are hormone pellets?
Pellets are made up of either estradiol or testosterone. The hormones are pressed or fused into very small solid cylinders. The pellets look like a small seed. In the United States, the majority of pellets are made by compounding pharmacists and delivered in sterile glass vials. 

Why pellets?
Pellets deliver consistent, healthy levels of hormones for 3-5 months in women and 4-6 months in men. They avoid the fluctuations, or ups and downs, of hormone levels seen with every other method of delivery. Estrogen delivered by subcutaneous pellets, maintains the normal ratio of estradiol to estrone. This is important for optimal health and disease prevention. Pellets do not increase the risk of blood clots like conventional or synthetic hormone replacement therapy. 

In studies, when compared to conventional hormone replacement therapy, pellets have been shown to be superior for relief of menopausal and andropausal symptoms (male hormone decline or “male menopause”), maintenance of bone density, restoration of sleep patterns, and improvement in sex drive, libido, sexual response and performance.

Testosterone delivered by a pellet implant, has been used to treat migraine and menstrual headaches. It also helps with vaginal dryness, incontinence, urinary urgency and frequency. In both men and women, testosterone has been shown to increase energy, relieve depression, increase sense of well being, relieve anxiety and improve memory and concentration. Testosterone, delivered by pellet implant, increases lean body mass (muscle strength, bone density) and decreases fat mass. Men and women need adequate levels of testosterone for optimal mental and physical health and for the prevention of chronic illnesses like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and heart attacks, which are associated with low testosterone levels. 

Even patients who have failed other types of hormone therapy have a very high success rate with pellets. There is no other ‘method of hormone delivery’ that is as convenient for the patient as the implants. Pellets have been used in both men and women since the late 1930’s. In fact, there is more data in support of pellets than any other method of delivery of hormones worldwide. 

How and where are pellets inserted?
The insertion of pellets is a simple, relatively painless procedure done under local anesthesia. The pellets are usually inserted in the lower abdominal wall or upper buttocks through a small incision, which is then taped, closed. The experience of the health care professional matters a great deal, not only in placing the pellets, but also in determining the correct dosage of hormones to be used. 

Are there any side effects or complications from the insertion of the pellets? 
Complications from the insertion of pellets include; minor bleeding or bruising, discoloration of the skin, infection and the possible extrusion of the pellet. Other than slight bruising or discoloration of the skin, these complications are very rare. Testosterone may cause a slight increase in facial hair in some women. 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. If the hemoglobin and hematocrit (blood count) get too high, a unit of blood may be donated.

After the insertion of the implants, vigorous physical activity is avoided for 72 hours in women and 5-7 days in men. Early physical activity is a cause of ‘extrusion’, which is a pellet working its way out. Antibiotics may be prescribed if a patient is diabetic or has had a joint replaced. However, this is a ‘clean procedure’ and antibiotics are most often not needed.

Most of the time, when estradiol is prescribed, progesterone is also prescribed even if the patient has had a hysterectomy. Progesterone is prescribed in an alternate delivery system as it dissolves too quickly to include in the pellet. It usually is delivered in an oral troche or cream.

The main indication for the use of synthetic progestins, like Provera®, is to prevent the proliferation (stimulation) of the uterine lining caused by estrogen. However, there are progesterone (not progestin) receptors in the bone, brain, heart, bladder, breast and uterus where progesterone has been shown to have beneficial effects. 

Progesterone can be used as a topical cream, vaginal cream, oral capsule (Prometrium®), sublingual troche or drops. Only oral progesterone (100-200mg) and vaginal progesterone (45-90mg) have been studied and shown to protect the uterine lining from estrogen stimulation. 

Women at any age may experience hormone imbalance. Levels decline or fluctuate contributing to debilitating symptoms. Hormone therapy with pellets is not just used for menopause. If a patient is pre-menopausal, she uses the progesterone the last two weeks of the menstrual cycle (day 1, being the first day of bleeding). Pellets are useful in severe PMS, post partum depression, menstrual or migraine headaches, and sleeping disorders. Pellets may also be used to treat hormone deficiencies (testosterone) caused by the birth control pill.

                        Cost and Fee schedule

• Consultation – (30 minutes) no labs                                      $99
•  Consultation (with labs)        Male and Female                  $299
•  Follow-up pellet consultation  (at 4 weeks) w/labs          $150
  
•  Pellet Insertion – Female    (includes 3 pellets)                  $325
  
• Per Pellet Fee – Female    (over 3 pellets)                              $40
•  Pellet Insertion-Male     (up to 1,600 mg Test)                    $590
• Per Pellet Fee-100 mg-Male   (if over 1,600 mg needed)   $40
• Per Pellet Fee-200 mg-Male (if over 1,600 mg needed)     $60
  

​

For women the average cost of hormone treatment would work out to be with initial cost of labs and consult and with a 4-6 week follow up with lab visit with the average woman needing 3 pellets every 4 months. This works out to 1424.00 a year which equals just 3.90 a day.

For men the average cost of hormone treatment would work out to be with initial cost of labs and consult and with a 4-6 week follow up with lab visit the average man needs 12-16 pellets every 6 months. This works out to 1629.00 a year which equals just 4.46 a day.

You are welcome to use your funds in your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) to pay for testosterone pellets.  Also, remember that we accept CareCredit.
 
Why SottoPelle® Therapy?

Our method delivers the right kind of hormones, in individualized amounts that are adjusted by our doctors as your bodies needs change, using a delivery method that releases a natural amount of hormone as your body needs it.
Using a low dose, bio-identical pellet, SottoPelle® restores hormone levels to normal ranges, while safely and effectively resolving the symptoms associated with low testosterone. No one-size-fits-all. No guesswork.
We tailor your hormone replacement according to your specific needs. Something other methods will never deliver. This remarkably simple, hassle-free therapy can return you to the balance and vitality of healthy hormone levels. It can give you back your life – naturally.

Notes

All fees are expected at the time of service.
We do not have billing or pre-certification staff. All contact with insurance companies is your responsibility.
Most insurance companies will reimburse men for pellet implantations, but not women.
This service is not covered by Medicare so you may not send in your bill for reimbursement.

Conclusion

Patients know that prevention is much more cost effective than disease. In conclusion, estrogen and testosterone therapy by implantation of pellets is a safe and effective method of hormone therapy for both men and women. Long, continuous administration of hormones by pellets is convenient and economical for the patient. Pellet implantation has consistently proven to be more effective than oral, intramuscular, and topical hormone therapy with regard to bone density, sexual function, mood and cognitive function, urinary and vaginal complaints, breast health, lipid profiles, hormone ratios and metabolites.

Remaining healthy into old age depends on many things including lifestyle and genetics. It also makes sense to replenish what the body needs. That’s why we supplement vitamins and minerals. It’s also why we use HRT to restore internal balance. Many physicians focus on simply relieving symptoms with pharmaceutical pills, patches, injections or creams. However, in order to return the body to balance, it needs recognizable hormone substances and a precision delivery method to transport them through the blood stream around the clock.
By far the safest, most effective and convenient method, properly administered bioidentical hormone replacement (BHRT) using pellet implants can restore the beneficial hormone levels your body needs. Pellet implants consist of low dose estradiol and testosterone that release slowly for 3 to 6 months, 24/7. It is the only BHRT method that can release more hormone when the body needs it.

 

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)    Pellet Therapy

https://sottopelletherapy.com/doctors/shawn-bonilla-aprn/

Call one of our offices today to schedule your consultation for ​HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY!

​​Call one of our offices today to schedule your consultation for ​HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY!

"Shawn has always been eager to find new ways to help his patients and in the past several years he has seen several cases where people have benefited from Hormone Replacement. After seeing the positive results his patients were having, he then became more interested in furthering his knowledge and learning new ways to help them feel better and improve their lives."