Hormone therapy is the treatment of symptoms or disease with synthetic or naturally-derived hormones. When the body produces too little of a particular hormone, hormone replacement therapy is necessary to replenish stores and maintain natural production levels.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is the natural option for hormone therapy. Bioidentical hormones are derived from natural sources and designed to be structurally identical to the hormones produced naturally by the human body.

Unlike synthetic hormones, bioidentical hormones are an exact structural match to your own hormones. This feature allows the supplemented hormones to fit perfectly into your body’s hormone receptors thereby reducing possible side effects and increasing the effectiveness of the treatment. Efficacy and outcomes are further improved when hormone pellet therapy is the method of delivery.

Bioidentical hormone therapy pellets are custom-compounded estradiol or testosterone pressed into small, solid cylinders similar to a large grain of rice. Pellet production is highly regulated by the FDA.  EvexiPEL Certified providers source pellets from FaramaKeio, one of the leading 503B FDA-registered compounding pharmacies in the country. Each pellet is carefully compounded to the exact dose prescribed by your practitioner to meet your body’s unique needs and facilitate optimal absorption of your prescribed therapy.

The EvexiPEL method features the patented - pellet that is plant based and derived from yam sand designed to be an exact replication of what the body produces in contrast to synthetic hormones. This pellet is specifically designed to improve patient comfort and deliver sustained, steady dosing throughout the treatment cycle.

For women, the effects typically last an average of 3-4 months. Very active individuals may require therapy every 3 months or sooner, while less active or elderly individuals may experience benefits for longer than 4 months. In men, the typical cycle ranges from 4-6 months. The return of early symptoms of hormone insufficiency, such as fatigue, joint pain, or decreased libido, can indicate the need for your next insertion.

The individual ingredients within the pellets are FDA-approved, and the distribution of these pellets is regulated by the FDA. However, the pellet insertion procedure itself is not FDA approved. It's common for physicians to prescribe medications or therapies for uses not explicitly approved by the FDA (off-label) if they believe them to be safe and effective for their patients. The reason bio-identical hormones (compounded drugs) are not FDA-approved is due to their individualized dosing nature.

Pellets are inserted using a very minor surgical procedure, performed in the office setting and requiring only local anesthesia. Using a very small incision (~ 1-2 cm in women, ~ 3-4 cm in men), they are inserted subcutaneously below the belt and above the buttock in women, and in the posterior flank in men. Recovery is very quick and uncomplicated; exercise restrictions for 3 days in women and 5 days in men are simply to avoid complications.

After insertion, you may experience soreness and light bruising at the incision site. Patients should refrain from strenuous activity for several days after insertion to facilitate healing and prevent the possibility of extrusion.

After insertion, you may experience soreness and light bruising at the incision site. Patients should refrain from strenuous activity for several days after insertion to facilitate healing and prevent the possibility of extrusion.

Patients may begin to notice symptom relief with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy within days to a few weeks after insertion. The greatest improvements are most often observed in men and women after their second pellet insertion. Optimal results are best achieved when paired with a healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet and routine exercise.

Some patients may experience temporary, undesirable side effects as their body adapts to the treatment. The most common side effects are increased hair growth and skin breakouts due to increased oil production. If you observe any side effects, tell your provider so that he or she may adjust your treatment plan as needed.

Patients who seek hormone therapy are often seeking relief from uncomfortable symptoms of hormone imbalance including hot flashes, night sweats, hair loss, insomnia, weight gain, brain fog, low energy, moodiness, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, and more. With pellet therapy, patients experience relief of these symptoms as well as additional benefits, such as improved libido, mental focus, and reduced risk of disease. The primary goal of hormone therapy is to address the root cause of these symptoms—hormone imbalance—and reach a state of hormone optimization.

Bioidentical hormones are derived from natural sources, such as yams or soy, and designed to be structurally identical to the hormones produced by the human body. This feature ensures that when bioidentical hormones are supplemented to correct hormonal imbalance, the hormones react in the same manner as the hormones naturally produced by the body, therefore reducing side effects, supporting disease prevention, and alleviating uncomfortable symptoms.

Compounded bioidentical hormones are not FDA-approved because each dose is tailored to the needs of each patient. The pharmacies and ingredients used to develop compounded bioidentical hormones are FDA-registered and approved.  

Some bioidentical hormones, such as Prometrium®, a bioidentical progesterone, and estriol, a bioidentical estrogen, are FDA-approved.

There is no correlation to an increased risk of breast or other cancers or blood clots with the use of plant-based, bioidentical hormones, as documented by countless peer-reviewed studies, analyses, and research.  

Bioidentical hormone pellet therapy is not shown to carry the same risks of certain cancers commonly affiliated with synthetic hormones, such as oral conjugated equine estrogen, chemical progestin, or hormone metabolites. These forms of synthetic hormones were cited in the well-known Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) and linked to certain forms of cancer.  

Current research and data on bioidentical forms of estrogen and testosterone show a decreased risk of certain diseases.