Hormone Balance Therapy

Research consistently shows pellet implants offer the most effective method to deliver hormones in both men and women. Implanted in the fatty tissue under the skin, pellets release a constant stream of hormones into the body, 24/7/365, most closely mimicking the way the body naturally releases hormones.

Convenience is also a big factor. With pellets, patients undergo the procedure two or three times a year and get on with their lives. Other modalities, like pills and messy creams, need to be used daily. Patches work a bit better, but the absorption of skin-based delivery methods is variable. Plus, we often lose sensitivity over time, which means patients will regularly need to find a new spot to apply the cream or adhere to the patch.

On average, pellet implants last 5 to 6 months in men (two visits per year) and 4 to 5 months in women (three visits per year). Since patients receive a topical anesthetic during the procedure, most can expect to experience little to no discomfort during or after the procedure.

Although most people experience substantial benefits after the first round of therapy, many patients experience a more pronounced benefit after the second round of pellet implants. Therefore, EvexiPEL practitioners advise patients to have the procedure performed at least two times before expecting optimum results.

Remember, people don’t get out of balance overnight, so it often takes a few months to get back on track.

We do ask that patients take it easy and avoid strenuous exercise for a few days following the procedure–72 hours for women and 5 to 7 days for men. This helps ensure the incision heals and can prevent extrusion of the pellet from under the skin.

Most female patients begin to “feel better” within 48 to 72 hours, though it may take a week or two for some women to notice a difference. Men can expect to experience the benefits of their pellet implants within 1 to 2 weeks. To achieve optimal health, living a healthy lifestyle–balanced diet and regular exercise–goes hand-in-hand with hormone balance.

EvexiPEL Certified Practitioners treat patients of all ages. The length of your treatment plan and therapy is directly related to how long you want to look and feel your best.

During the patient’s initial consultation, the practitioner will discuss his or her health and wellness goals and conduct a thorough medical exam and tests to determine the root cause of the patient’s health problems.

If hormone levels are imbalanced or other health issues are identified, the practitioner will create an integrated treatment plan.

Research repeatedly links hormone imbalance to an increased risk for cancer, osteoporosis, stroke, thyroid disorders, diabetes, heart disease and other age-related disease processes.

During pre-menopause, menopause and andropause (the male version of hormone depletion), declining health is considered the norm. But feeling poorly doesn’t need to be the norm, thanks to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and other treatments EvexiPEL practitioners may recommend.

Estrogen loss puts women at risk for premature ovary failure, osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, tooth loss, impaired vision, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes. These risks increase the longer a woman suffers from estrogen deficiency.

However, women also need testosterone! Imbalanced testosterone levels in women may compromise mental clarity, libido and muscle tone and mass. The brain needs testosterone in balance with estrogen-and a healthy gut – to produce serotonin, which supports emotional balance.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is NOT a magic bullet for losing weight, however when hormones are optimized, weight loss efforts typically begin to pay off. Patients still need to eat a balanced diet and exercise, and increased energy levels will help in that area!

What bioidentical hormone replacement therapy may do is increase energy, improve quality of sleep, increase muscle mass and fat burning and decrease cortisol.

Hormone imbalance and “Low T” are by far the most common causes of sexual dysfunction in men and women. By balancing hormone levels with pellet therapy, most EvexiPEL patients have experienced a return of or significant improvement to their sexual libido and function.

Can bioidentical hormone replacement therapy help patients look younger?

Testosterone contributes to healthy skin by aiding oil production, which allows skin to hold on to moisture. Skin can become dry, crêpey and dull when testosterone is low.

In addition, testosterone is a natural blood vessel dilator, which facilitates blood flow to the skin. These two factors–moisture and blood flow–contribute to the dewy, rosy, vibrant complexion associated with youth.

For women, estrogen and collagen go hand-in-hand. Collagen naturally plumps the skin, so when estrogen declines, wrinkles and saggy skin result. Prevention is key, so optimizing hormones as early as possible is essential to maintaining healthy, younger-looking skin.

Testosterone and estrogen can be supplemented in the form of pellets, but other hormones may be out of whack, too. Many of our patients also benefit from progesterone and thyroid optimization.

Depending on the patient’s individual needs, he or she may benefit from an appropriate detox program, probiotics, nutritional support in the form of supplements or IV therapy, weight loss programs and other treatments.

Complications from the insertion of pellets may include: minor bleeding or bruising; discoloration of the skin; infection; and possible extrusion of the pellet. Other than slight bruising and skin discoloration, these complications are very rare.

The most common side effects are increased hair growth and possible skin breakouts with the first round of therapy, because the body is getting used to increased oil production in the skin. EvexiPEL practitioners may recommend patients change their skin care regimen from heavy anti-aging products to lighter, oil-free skin care lines. Side effects may be avoided with decreasing doses on subsequent rounds of therapy.

There are currently no known health conditions that exclude a person from undergoing bioidentical hormone replacement therapy with pellet implants. The majority of people with hormone imbalance are great candi-dates for the therapy.

However, EvexiPEL practitioners take an individualized approach based on the patient’s medical history. They do modify their approach to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for patients who are estrogen-positive breast cancer survivors and prostate cancer survivors.