Frequently Asked Questions

BioTE Medical offers bio-identical hormone replacement therapy in the form of subcutaneous pellets. We offer two kinds of pellets: both estradiol pellets and testosterone pellets. These pellets are inserted into the hip area during an in-office visit after testing has been done to determine the exact quantity of the hormone each patient requires. Every dose is custom created based on your tests to ensure uou have the exact number of hormones needed over time. 

It is said that bio-identical hormones, such as the ones used by BioTE Medical, work better with the natural chemistry of the body because they most closely replicate the molecular structure of the hormones that naturally occur within the body. 

Hormone pellets release bio-identical hormones into the bloodstream continuously. These are tiny pellets just under the skin, typically placed in the upper hip. BHRT pellets are approximately the size of a grain of rice and are consistently effective for between 3 and 6 months. 

Studies have shown that balanced hormones are necessary for good health and disease prevention for women and men throughout the entire lifecycle. However, balanced hormones become even more critical for health as we grow older and more susceptible to disease. 

At a minimum, BioTE requires our comprehensive blood panel which you can discuss with your BioTE provider. 

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 the pellets are bio-identical and contain nothing more than the hormones your body naturally produces, the pellets are completely dissolved and absorbed, leaving nothing behind. 

Pellets last between 3 and 6 months depending on gender, weight, absorption rates and the amount of deficiency or surplus of hormones present within the patient at the time of administration. Pellets are reinserted between 2 and 4 times per year to help keep hormones optimized and balanced. 

As each patient’s symptoms are unique, so is each patient’s path to hormone optimization. Most patients report some symptom resolution in as little as two to four weeks, but full optimization may take up to six months. Your journey will be customized to fit your specific needs. It takes more than one to two weeks for your hormones to get out of balance, so expect it to take time to resolve. 

Schedule an office visit with your BioTE provider to test your current hormone levels. Based on your comprehensive consultation and thorough blood work panel, your provider will determine if you are a candidate for BioTE pellet therapy.  

The only drawback of pellet therapy is that there is an upfront cost associated with the treatment. This is because insurance carriers do not cover BHRT pellet therapy. It is possible that insurance carriers do not provide coverage for BHRT because it is a natural treatment which cannot be patented and therefore cannot be approved by the FDA. 

Hormone pellets were originally developed in 1939 for women who underwent radical hysterectomies. Widely used in Europe & Australia, they are the longest studied form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to date. 

We use Lidocaine to numb the area locally, which can have a slight burn for approximately 5-10 seconds.  The only discomfort you should feel will be due to the local anesthetic.  After that, the procedure is pain free. 

Females: You will have 2 separate, but manageable bandages.  For 3 days we ask that you refrain from soaking in water – Showers only please. You can get the insertion site wet, but we do not want you soaking or submerging in water until the site is healed. Also, for 3 days we ask that you do not do any gluteal exercises. Walking, upper body weights, treadmill & normal exercises are all fine. We just ask that you do not do any exercises that specifically target the gluteal muscles until the site is healed. 

Males: You will have a water-resistant bandage that stays on for an entire week. For 7 days we ask that you refrain from soaking in water – Showers only please. You can get the insertion site wet, but we do not want you soaking or submerging in water until the site is healed. Also, for 7 days we ask that you do not do any gluteal exercises. Walking, upper body weights, treadmill & normal exercises are all fine. We just ask that you do not do any exercises that specifically target the gluteal muscles until the site is healed. 

No. The BioTE pellets are all-natural, so no synthetic substance will remain. They will completely dissolve in your body & do not need to be removed prior to your next pelleting. 

While some symptoms may be relieved in just a few days, it typically takes about 2 weeks to start noticing a difference. You also may not realize the full effect until you have done 2 or 3 pellet treatments.  

You will know that is it time to re-pellet when you start to have some symptoms return. For example; hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, irritability, fatigue. 

For female patients, that is approximately 3-5 months. For male patients, that is approximately 5-7 months.