Bioidentical Hormone Therapy: Testosterone Pellet

There are many options for menopausal symptoms including hormonal and non-hormonal options but the treatment pathway can be tedious and frustrating.  There are risks and benefits to all therapies and some work very well for women and others do not.  

Testosterone pellet hormone therapy is an option that is safe, easy, and effective.

What is it?

Bio-identical hormone therapy (BHT) with testosterone pellets implantation has been used in the U.S., Europe, and Australia since 1938 and found to be superior to other methods of hormone delivery.  The testosterone implant is licensed in England for women and FDA approved in the US for males since 1972.   Studies have shown that testosterone pellet BHT in women improve hot flashes, sex drive, energy levels, sleep disturbances, mood changes—essentially all the common symptoms of menopause—with minimal risks and additional benefits.   Testosterone pellets (TP) do not have the same risk of breast cancer or cardiovascular risks as synthetic progestins or estrogen.  In fact, studies show a reduction in the incidence of breast cancer, prostate cancer (many benefits in men too, of course!), and cardiovascular injury with the use of TP.  Additional benefits for women have been found for migraine headaches that are hormone-related, severe premenstrual syndrome unresponsive to other forms of therapy, and even in some cases of severe endometriosis.

Why Haven't I Heard About it Before?

Why aren’t all women’s health providers giving this as an option for menopausal symptoms? Without getting into details about pharmaceutical marketing and studies that influence what is approved by the FDA or not, the answer is simple, money!  Don’t get me wrong, there is a great need for pharmaceutical research and historically it is this research that has contributed to some of the treatment options that exist for diseases that people died of in the past. However, testosterone pellets are bio-identical, rice-sized implants that are made from yam oils that are dose adjustable by compounding measures which cannot be patented.  Therefore, you won't see/hear advertisements for this therapy.  Bio-identical hormones are commercially available from pharmaceutical companies in formulations in which they can patent the transport system such as the estrogen patches, gels, and creams.  I am very familiar with these types of BHT options; and they work very well for some women, while other women may not be good candidates.  Any estrogen therapy carries an increase risk (usually very small) of cardiovascular injury and breast cancer risk for those who choose to use the estrogen therapy for more than 5yrs.  Therefore, a careful selection process is important when using estrogen bio-identical hormone therapy.

Testosterone pellet bio-identical hormone therapy is a safe and effective treatment option to improving a women's quality of life when the multifaceted symptoms of menopause start manifesting themselves on a daily basis.  Want to learn more?  We'd love to tell you more about it, in person, at your next visit.