Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

Overview

Aging gracefully often comes from good habits like a balanced diet, regular exercise, and managing stress. Yet, there are times when you might need additional support to counter hormonal disturbances. These man-made hormones, available since the 1930s, are crafted to precisely match the chemical and molecular structure of your body’s hormones, making them highly effective for addressing hormonal imbalances or deficiencies.

Bioidentical hormones work in harmony with your body’s natural hormones to restore youthful vitality and alleviate symptoms like:

  • fatigue
  • mood swings
  • weight gain
  • sleep trouble

By using bioidentical hormones that mimic natural hormones, our treatments are seamlessly integrated into your body’s systems, enhancing efficacy and improving your overall quality of life. This precise compatibility makes bioidentical hormones the perfect “keys” to unlock and activate the body’s receptor sites.

Why it's done

Your body requires an optimal balance of hormones to function effectively. When hormonal imbalances occur, it can disrupt various functions in our body. Pellet therapy is an advanced method designed to restore and maintain hormone balance with precision and ease. Unlike traditional hormone replacement modalities, this provides unique benefits tailored to meet individual health needs and lifestyles, including:

  • Consistent hormone levels. Pellet therapy offers a steady release of hormones, closely mimicking the body’s natural production. This ensures consistent hormone levels, avoiding the peaks and troughs often associated with other hormone replacement methods, such as pills or creams.

  • Convenience. There is no need for daily pills or frequent injections. Pellets typically last for several months, making it a convenient option for those with busy lifestyles who seek a hassle-free treatment.
  • Customized treatment. Each pellet dose is tailored to the individual based on comprehensive lab tests, ensuring you receive the precise amount of hormones needed for your unique body and health needs.
  • Natural hormones. The hormones used in pellet therapy are structurally identical to those produced by the human body, promoting better integration and fewer side effects compared to synthetic hormones.

Risks

Typically, the pellet implant procedure is associated with minimal side effects. Possible complications can include minor bleeding, bruising, infection, and pellet extrusion. However, aside from slight bruising, these complications are extremely rare.

How you prepare

There are two primary types of pellet therapy: estrogen and testosterone pellets. Before pellet insertion, thorough lab testing is conducted to determine the exact hormone quantity needed for each patient. Each dose is tailored through a detailed consultation and comprehensive lab work, ensuring the delivery of the precise hormone concentration required.

Preparing for BHRT treatment is simple and does not require fasting. However, you may need to temporarily stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, prior to treatment. No special preparations are necessary for bioidentical hormone therapy.

What to expect

During treatment

A doctor injects a patient with hormone pellets to address hormone-related issues.

Patient receiving BHRT treatment

Pellet insertion is a straightforward in-office procedure performed under local anesthesia. The pellets are placed beneath the fatty layer of the skin, typically in the upper buttocks via a small incision. The incision is then covered with a small bandage. 

It’s normal to experience slight redness around the incision site and minimal discomfort following the procedure.

After treatment

After pellet insertion, it’s advisable to refrain from vigorous physical activity and exercises like stair stepping, using an elliptical, cycling, or any activities that engage the gluteal muscles for 2 days. Steer clear of bathtubs, swimming pools, and hot tubs, although showers are permitted. Once the bandage is removed, you may resume normal activities. 

Results

Pellet implants generally last between three to five months, depending on the rate at which your body metabolizes the hormones. Symptom relief may vary among patients; some may begin to feel better within just two days, while others might take up to two weeks to notice significant improvements. Full results typically manifest within four weeks. 

Because pellets are bioidentical and contain hormones similar to those our bodies naturally produce, they are fully dissolved and absorbed within the body, leaving no residue behind. We actively monitor each patient’s progress to maintain proper hormone levels and to decide when subsequent pellet insertions are necessary.

Frequently asked questions

We have the information you need about our bio-identical hormone therapy and the common questions we answer for our patients.

Most patients experience no pain during hormone pellet insertion. To ensure comfort, a local anesthetic is applied to the insertion site beforehand. Some tenderness, redness, and minor bruising may occur for up to 3-4 days post-insertion, but the entire process is generally quick and painless.

Pellets typically last between three to six months, depending on factors such as gender, weight, absorption rates, and the existing levels of hormones at the time of insertion. To maintain optimal and balanced hormone levels, pellets are reinserted two to four times per year. It may take up to two insertions before patients experience the full benefits.

Each person’s body is unique, but as a pellet cycle concludes or when discontinuing pellet therapy entirely, symptoms such as fatigue, low mood, and sleeplessness may resurface. Typically, the patient’s symptoms will revert to their state prior to BHRT as their estrogen and testosterone levels decline.

The James Clinic medical team is deploying to North Carolina to provide critical aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

We have established a Venmo where 100% of the donations will go directly to support those without access to medical care. Please consider donating and praying for these families.