All About Hormone Optimization

There are many things that contribute to feeling tired, being non-motivated, or loss of desire.

Our goal is to help find answers to many of these same questions expressed by our patients.

There is no "one" answer to this question.  Each person has different body chemistry and different metabolism rates.  That is why we check 15 different lab values at your first visit.

You will need to make an appointment for your initial blood work.  This appointment is very quick.

One week later, you will have a follow-up appointment with the Provider, go over your lab results, and discuss treatment options that work best for you.  You need to plan for one hour's time for your follow-up appointment.  Every person gets an individualized treatment plan.  One size does not fit all.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, or BHRT, is a form of hormone therapy that has existed in the U.S. for many decades and uses hormones that are structurally similar to those found within the human body.

Bioidentical hormones, such as the ones used by Biote, work with the body’s chemistry because they closely replicate the molecular structure of the hormones that normally occur within the body. 

Certified Providers receive training on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in the form of subcutaneous pellets. These pellets are inserted into the upper buttocks area during an in-office visit after testing is done to determine the exact quantity of the hormone the patient requires. Every dose is customized based on a consultation and extensive lab work to ensure a patient receives the exact concentration of hormones needed.

Bioidentical hormones, such as the ones used in training, work with the chemistry of the body because they replicate the molecular structure of the hormones that normally occur within the body.

Yes, there are two major pellet therapy types: estrogen pellets and testosterone pellets. 

Estrogen is a hormone that possesses many functions and occurs in the bodies of both men and women. In women, estrogen is commonly associated with reproduction—it prompts the menstrual cycle and develops the female body’s secondary sex characteristics. However, in both sexes, estrogen is responsible for many facets of bone health, cholesterol metabolism, and the thickness and collagen content of the skin. 

Estrogen pellets are small cylinders that are custom compounded and composed of estradiol, a form of estrogen. Estrogen pellets may relieve emotional, reproductive, and non-reproductive symptoms. The most common administration for estrogen pellets is to help address the uncomfortable symptoms of aging in women. 

In women, estrogen levels are reduced as they get older. Hormone levels in women drop most dramatically during perimenopause (immediately before menopause) and during menopause. In fact, after female menopause, many men may have higher estrogen levels than women. If a woman has had a radical hysterectomy involving the removal of both ovaries, her estrogen levels will struggle significantly, as the ovaries’ primary responsibility is estrogen production. Although adrenal glands produce some estrogen, as does fat tissue, this is often not enough to effectively balance and maintain women’s hormone levels. 

Estrogen pellets are primarily used to combat the effects of menopause. Studies have shown that estrogen may also help relieve some symptoms associated with mood, bone density, and heart health. 

Pellets last up to three to six months depending on gender, weight, absorption rates, and the amount of deficiency or surplus of hormones present within the patient at the time of insertion. Pellets are reinserted between two to four times per year to help keep hormones optimized and balanced and may take up to two insertions before feeling the full benefits. 

Women is typically +/- 3 months.  Men is typically +/- 5 months.  People with a very sedentary lifestyle, their pellets tend to last longer.  People with a very active lifestyle, their pellets tend to absorb faster due to their bodies demand for more hormones.

Certified Providers require extensive lab work while considering a patient’s candidacy for BHRT using pellets. A provider will discuss the results with a patient before moving forward with pellet therapy.  We check 15 different levels, including thyroid functions, at your initial lab work visit.

During the in-office visit, which only takes a few minutes, patients are brought into the exam room, and the insertion site is numbed. The most common site of insertion is the upper buttocks. A small incision is then made for pellet insertion. Once the pellet is inserted, the insertion site is covered with a small bandage. 

Since pellets are bioidentical and contain hormones like those our body produces, pellets are completely dissolved and absorbed, leaving nothing behind. 

After pellet insertion, it’s best to abstain from lower body exercise. Walking should be fine, but strenuous activity is not recommended. Avoid bathtubs, swimming, saunas, and hot tubs ; however, showers are permitted. After removal of the bandage, normal activity may resume.  

As each patient’s symptoms are unique, so is each patient’s path to hormone optimization. The Biote Method is customized to fit a patient’s specific needs. 

Testosterone is a hormone normally found in both men and women that is responsible for many critical body processes. Testosterone is produced in the testes and ovaries, and deficiencies can occur in men and women as the body ages. 

Testosterone pellets are composed of powdered testosterone fused into a pellet using stearic acid as a binding agent. The compounding pharmacies provide high-quality pellets with ingredients that are meticulously tested. This testing process gives pharmacists, providers, and patients confidence in the pellets’ quality. 

Testosterone has been shown to relieve a wide range of reproductive, emotional, and non-reproductive conditions. Some of these include low energy, sexual dysfunction, mood swings, irritability, and many others. 

Every person’s body is different, but at the end of a pellet cycle or when stopping pellet therapy altogether, symptoms of fatigue, low mood and sleeplessness may recur. Typically, the patient’s symptoms will return to the same state prior to BHRT as their estrogen and testosterone levels begin to drop. 

You will need to make an appointment for your initial blood work.  This appointment is very quick.

One week later, you will have a follow-up appointment with the Provider, go over your lab results, and discuss a treatment options that work best for you.  You need to plan for one hour's time for your follow-up appointment.  Every person gets an individualized treatment plan.  One size does not fit all.