Optimizing Hormones: The Case for Hormone Pellet Therapy
In recent years, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using pellets has gained recognition for its numerous benefits. Pellets are a form of bioidentical hormone replacement that closely mimics the hormones naturally produced by our bodies when we were younger. To shed more light on this topic, OnePeak Medical hormone expert Shannon Galpin, MSN, FNP-BC, shared valuable insights that make a compelling case for considering hormone pellets as a viable option for anyone considering hormone pellet therapy.
First and foremost, who should consider hormone replacement therapy? According to Shannon, “Hormone replacement therapy is a great option for both men and women who have noted (hormone) deficiencies.”
Many people think that a decline in hormones such as testosterone and progesterone is a normal part of aging and should just be “dealt with.” But Shannon explains that it doesn’t have to be this way.
“As we age, optimizing hormones plays a pivotal role in promoting longevity and aging well. Hormone replacement therapy becomes increasingly important as the body’s natural hormone production declines with age. The use of estrogen replacement pellets has shown to be beneficial in reducing cardiovascular disease risk, preventing osteoporosis, preserving bone health, and addressing a range of physical and emotional symptoms, such as brain fog and stress.”
Furthermore, she explained that estrogen replacement through pellets offers additional benefits such as improving skin elasticity, reducing wrinkles, alleviating hot flashes and night sweats, enhancing cognitive function, reducing fatigue, and improving mood. Similarly, testosterone deficiency syndrome can be effectively managed with hormone pellets, addressing issues such as fatigue, weight gain, loss of muscle mass, decreased libido, and overall sexual functioning.
Using hormone pellets over other delivery mechanisms, like creams, offers several advantages.
Five Reasons Hormone Pellet Therapy Is Beneficial Over Other Options
- Convenience: Hormone pellets are conveniently placed in the buttocks and slowly disbursed over a typical period of four months for women and six months for men. As the body develops capillaries around the pellets, they are gradually released into the bloodstream, allowing for consistent and continuous hormone delivery.
- Bioidentical Nature: Pellets closely resemble the body’s natural hormones, making them a more compatible and effective hormone replacement therapy.
- Symptom Relief: Hormone pellets have effectively alleviated symptoms associated with testosterone and estrogen deficiency syndromes, improving overall well-being and quality of life.
- Continuous Hormone Availability: The sustained release of hormones from pellets ensures a continuous and steady supply, offering a consistent level of hormones in the body.
- Elimination of Daily Applications: Unlike other hormone replacement methods such as creams, gels, patches, or oral medications, hormone pellets eliminate the need for daily applications, providing a hassle-free and convenient alternative.
Shannon adds that one notable advantage of hormone pellets is their direct absorption into the bloodstream, bypassing the stomach and liver. This is crucial as it ensures that the body receives the full potency of the hormones without any loss due to metabolism in the liver or stomach.
Hormone replacement therapy should never be administered without being closely monitored by a healthcare provider.
“The hormones a patient receives are customized to their symptoms and lab results, but it is also up to the patient to decide what symptoms they want to decrease,” said Shannon. “Too much or too little of a hormone can cause symptoms not to resolve or cause other issues to emerge.”
Interestingly, not all healthcare providers are on the pellet bandwagon. Hormones delivered via cream are the default among many. Shannon feels this isn’t always in the best interest of patients.
“The bioavailability of a hormone through a cream is not as great as with a pellet,” said Shannon. She adds that with a cream, it is harder to control hormone delivery, and patients may experience mixed results, especially if they aren’t applying the cream at the same time every day.
As functional medicine experts, the providers at OnePeak Medical target the underlying cause of their patient’s symptoms. Lab results drive treatment options, and hormone replacement therapy has been proven time and time again to be one of the best tools in their ever-expanding tool belt.
“I have been on pellets for over a decade, and it has made a significant difference in how I age,” said Shannon. “I am a big proponent of pellets because I know how life-changing they can be for patients.”
If you would like to explore hormone pellet therapy at OnePeak Medical or to schedule an appointment with Shannon in our Medford-Hillcrest office, you can conveniently schedule an appointment online here. If you live outside of the Medford area, we have 15 locations throughout Oregon, and our other providers would love to meet with you. You can learn more or schedule an appointment at any of our clinics here.