Female Frequently Asked Questions
What diseases are delayed or avoided if I take Bio-Identical Testosterone Pellets?

The known disease that testosterone can delay or prevent include:

  • Osteoporosis
  • Auto-immune dieases
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Immune deficiencies
  • Dementia and alzheimer's disease
  • Parkinsons's Disease
  • Frailty
  • Heart Disease and Stroke
  • Type II diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Insulin resistance
Why do I need any hormone replacement?

Women need replacement if they desire to: delay the symptoms of aging, depression and anxiety, regain libido, preserve skin and muscle tone, look younger, increase energy, strengthen the immune system, improve physical stamina, cure insomnia, thicken hair, protect against osteoporosis, dementia, diabetes, and heart disease, prevent the need for long term care from the loss of ability to walk, and improve general health.

  • Delay the symptoms of aging
  • reverse depression and anxiety
  • Regain libido
  • Preserve skin and muscle tone
  • Look younger
  • Increase energy
  • Strengthen immune system
  • Improve physical stamina
  • Cure insomnia
  • Protect against osteoporosis, dementia, diabetes, and hear disease
  • Improve general health
Why are pellets better than patches, shots or pills?

The reason we use pellets is they contain the pure hormone and are not metabolized into byproducts that will cause side effects or inactivate the testosterone before you use them. This unique delivery system (pellets placed under the skin in the upper buttock area) allows this pure hormone to be delivered directly to the blood stream. Pellets act as a reservoir of hormone that allows your body to take as much testosterone or estradiol as your body needs at any one time. When you are exercising, you have an increased pulse and cardiac output so you absorb more hormone. Because Bio-Identic pellets are bio-identical, and because of their efficient delivery system, women are more likely to feel better on pellets than with any other forms of estrogen or testosterone replacement.

What is Menopause?

Menopause is the third stage of aging. The first stage is losing your testosterone. The second stage is losing your progesterone. Menopause is when you enter the last stage of aging, and it doesn’t end. You are in this stage until you die. That is why we need to learn how to treat it and live with it.

What symptoms are treated by Bio-Identcal Estradiol Pellets?

Estradiol pellets adequately treat:

  • Hot flashes
  • A dry vagina
  • Painful intercourse
  • Dry skin
  • Thinning hair
  • Migraines
  • Night sweats
What symptoms are treated by Bio-Identical Testosterone Pellets?

Plus many other symptoms of testosterone deficiency

  • Low energy
  • Weight gain
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Belly fat accumulation
  • Immune system abnormality
  • Autoimmune Diseases
  • Dry eyes
  • Mental decline
  • Loss of exercise stamina
  • Low libido
  • Loss of motivation
  • Muscle mass loss
How is testosterone deficiency diagnosed?

Deficiency is diagnosed through its symptoms, medical history examination, in conjunction with our protocol using Optimal Levels for Total and Free Testosterone blood levels.

Can I take Testosterone pellets if I am not menopausal and still cycling?

Yes. Most patients begin treatment sometime after 40, since we start to lose our hormones in our late 30's. Testosterone from the ovaries disappears before menopause and should be replaced when a woman becomes symptomatic. If their ovaries are removed, they should start hormones following the removal of ovaries.

How is dosage calculated?

Every treatment plan is unique. We recreate what the normal daily production of testosterone and estradiol by a young ovary should be and deliver enough of that dose to last until the next pellet insertion. This dose is then adjusted according to body mass, exercise frequency, symptoms, and any medications the patient is on.

Where are pellets inserted?

We place them in the upper-outer quadrant of the buttock area about 1.5 centimeters below the skin where they can dissolve and be picked up by capillaries.

How long will it take for pellets to work?

It takes about 2-4 weeks to get the full effect. Pellets must be re-inserted every 3 to 4 months to prevent symptoms of recurrence.

How long will my pellets last?

3 to 4 months is typical, but each person is unique to when they need that next insertion. It is based on when they started to feel the pellets working and when they started to see a decrease in the benefits. It is also based on if they don't get a lot of sleep, exercise, do stressful work, or participate in athletics, in which case you will use them up more quickly and we may need to dose you with more pellets on the next insertion.

Do the pellets completely dissolve at the end of 3-4 months?

Yes. The pellets are completely absorbed by the body.

Do estradiol or testosterone pellets cause weight gain?

Testosterone increases the thickness of bones and muscles which increase lean body mass. But, it also decreases fat at the same time. In general, women taking pellet hormones start by dropping sizes and don’t begin to lose weight for 9-12 months.

How long will it take for me to start losing weight?

Depends on your lifestyle, such as exercise, healthy eating, hydration, how overweight you are when treatment begins, and what other relevant medical conditions. We always try to help you with your weight loss by optimizing your pellet dose and balancing your other hormones.

How long can I take pellets?

You can take pellet replacement hormones as long as you wish. Bio-identical Pellet Replacement is the closest thing to your natural hormones that you can receive. The replacement of both estradiol and testosterone prevents many of the diseases of aging. We can treat patients into their 90’s at PelletMD. Members of our staff say they will be taking them as long as they are alive!

If I take testosterone pellets, will I need DHEA supplementation?

Deficiency is diagnosed through its symptoms, medical history examination, in conjunction with our protocol using optimal levels for total and free testosterone blood levels.

If I have diabetes, will testosterone help me with my blood sugar?

Yes. Testosterone is very safe for diabetics and generally increases insulin sensitivity, which will decrease triglycerides and stabilize blood glucose. It will improve the status of your diabetes and help you lose weight.

Does testosterone improve depression and anxiety?

Yes. It often replaces anti-depressants (which decrease libido) after only one or two insertions.

Why do you prescribe Bio-Identical Progesterone to women with a uterus instead of synthetic oral Provera?

Oral progesterone, like bio-identical progesterone, can cause hunger and weight gain, with the side effects being worse with Provera. At PelletMD, we prefer bio-identical progesterone compounded for us.

What if I begin to bleed after menopause?

If bleeding starts, we minimize the amount of estradiol you receive and increase the dose of progesterone. This helps to protect you from post-menopausal bleeding. If this does not work, then we send you to your gynecologist for a uterine biopsy, ultrasound, or the placement of a Mirena IUD which counteracts uterine bleeding by providing a small amount of progesterone inside the uterus.

How do cholesterol-lowering drugs effect testosterone?

Testosterone is made of cholesterol. When you take cholesterol-lowering drugs, you decrease the substrate that testosterone is made of, and generally decrease the level of testosterone. Testosterone replacement lowers cholesterol, so we recheck after the first dose and if your lipids are much lower. We then suggest that you do a trial without the medication to see if you still need it.

Do Testosterone pellets cause Breast Cancer?

No. Testosterone pellets improve the immune system function so you can fight all types of cancers more easily than before you started treatment.

Do Bio-Identical testosterone or estradiol pellets cause blood clots?

No, they do not.

If I have used alcohol to excess or drugs like marijuana in the past, will I get the same effects as other women?

No. You will likely consume the testosterone more quickly than other women because your liver is hyper-activated to metabolize testosterone with the same enzymes that metabolize alcohol and drugs. In addition, marijuana increases prolactin, the hormone that increases breast size in men and women. Prolactin not only decreases your testosterone level but decreases your sex drive and sexual stamina.

Can I take birth control pills with testosterone pellets?

We strongly suggest that you do not because it dampens the effects of the testosterone pellets. Instead of oral contraceptives we encourage our patients to get a Mirena IUD or permanent birth control (like atubal ligation or have their husbands get a vasectomy) instead of taking the pill. Many women who insist on continuing the pill are disappointed in the resolution of their symptoms, and they decide after they experience the problem to seek out other birth control. Birth control is, of course, not needed after menopause..

What other medications inactivate or interact negatively with estradiol and testosterone pellets?

We suggest you look for alternative medications for the following drugs:

  • Corticosteroids such as prednisone
  • Medrol Dosepak
  • Tamoxifen
  • Progestins (not progesterone) such as Provera
  • DHEA that is not 7-keto DHEA
  • Other hormones given orally like oral contraceptives
  • Anti-depressants
  • Drugs for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, which supress the libido
I am a breast cancer survivor, can I take Bio-Identical Testosterone pellets?

Yes. If you been cancer free for ten years and have had no reoccurrence in that time frame. Bio-Identical’s do not cause cancer.

What can I do about belly fat that started to increase after I turned 40?

You should begin by taking non-oral estradiol and testosterone in the form of pellets. The pellets are the only form that bring the level of estrone back to young, healthy levels. Low estrogen increases belly fat.

Under what circumstances would I have to stop Bio-Identical pellets?

About 5% of our patients are not “cured” of the problems they wanted to treat. Sometimes, this is because the pellets are causing an effect that does not fit their lifestyle, such as a libido when they are unmarried or feel they are too old to engage in intercourse. In some cases, women will not experience healing as quickly as they would like. Patients with chronic fatigue are helped by testosterone replacement, but they don’t feel the resolution of symptoms as quickly as women who do not have that illness. Women who have psychiatric illnesses and are on multiple medications may not feel as healthy as women who do not have those illnesses. Lastly, if a patient develops breast cancer, then the estradiol pellets are not continued, although the testosterone pellets are safe to continue.

What if my genetics make me prone to convert testoterone into estrone?

We use a drug called Arimidex which blocks the enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogens (Aromatase Inhibitor). It is used “off label” for this indication, however it is indicated for prevention and treatment of breast cancer. We can also put arimidex generic in the pellets or prescribe it orally. DIM is a supplement that is weaker than the prescription arimidex. However, it works very well for most women.

Will I grow unwanted hair from the testosterone?

Compared with synthetic hormones, natural testosterone will not cause any more excess hair growth.

If Not Today, When?
Reset your age by getting your life back. Get started and call us today. If PELLETS are right for you, we help you get comprehensive lab work to determine your current levels. Then we schedule your Consult and Pellet Insertion and you are on your way to "Aging Backwards"
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