Why Many Women Won’t Achieve Hormonal Balance Using Pellets

When it comes to balancing hormones, women often turn to various treatments, including hormone pellets. However, while some women will get good results, especially in the short term, using hormone pellets poses substantial risks that can severely affect a woman's overall well-being. Here’s why hormone pellets may not be the best solution for the majority of women attempting to achieve hormonal balance:

1. Elevated Hormone Levels After Insertion/Low Levels as Pellets "Wear Out"-Pellets typically contain testosterone with or without estrogen, achieving levels at first that are significantly higher than what a normal woman would produce. These hormones spikes can be dangerous, especially right after a fresh pellet is inserted, Then, after the pellet has been in place for a few months and before the next one is placed, hormone levels can be lower than normal.

2. Ignoring Progesterone-Many hormone pellet clinics ignore or minimize the importance of progesterone, and some clinics don’t even recommend the use of progesterone in women using pellets. This is problematic because progesterone plays a crucial role in improving the efficiency of estrogen and potentially lowering the risk of breast cancer. (Which may especially be important because women with high testosterone levels seem to have a higher risk of breast cancer.) Progesterone also has significant calming effects on the brain, improving sleep and mood and making it essential for overall health. I have personally seen many women who have had pellets placed without having progesterone replaced or even measured.

3. Interruptions in Natural Hormone Cycling-Normal estrogen (and progesterone) levels in women naturally drop every month, which is crucial for resetting hormone receptors. These receptors need this natural cycling to maintain sensitivity to hormones. Constant exposure to hormones via pellets may lead to a decreased number of receptors, thus reducing hormone effectiveness over time.

4. Irremovability of Pellets-Once inserted, hormone pellets cannot be removed, which poses a significant risk for women who experience a bad reaction. Unlike topical or oral hormone treatments, the irreversible nature of pellets makes it impossible to correct any adverse effects immediately.

5. Lack of Expertise Among Providers-Some providers at hormone clinics are not true hormone experts. Some have only completed a basic course on pellet insertion (often sponsored by the pellet manufacturer) and may not have had extensive experience treating women prior to working at these clinics. This limited training can be dangerous if an adverse reaction occurs and the provider lacks the necessary knowledge to address it comprehensively.

6. Severe Adverse Effects of Testosterone Pellets/Elevated Testosterone Levels-Testosterone pellets can cause severe adverse effects, including masculinization. This may result in troubling symptoms such as loss of scalp hair, acne, facial hair growth, deepening of the voice, and more—with some effects possibly being irreversible. Shockingly, some women using testosterone pellets may develop testosterone levels higher than those typically seen in men!

7. Risks from Pellet Insertion-Pellet insertion is a minor surgical procedure that comes with its own set of risks, including mild discomfort or pain at the insertion site, infections, scarring-especially after several insertions, and the potential for the pellet to fall out.

8. High Expense-While one's health is certainly worth the investment, at some pellet clinics the monthly cost may end up being $300 or more monthly (or over $3000 per year) with lab testing, provider visits, and the cost of the pellets themselves. That may not be sustainable for the long term for many women.

9. Difficulty getting back in balance after using pellets-It is much easier to get into hormonal balance when starting from scratch than after one has been overdosed with hormones. Coming off of high dose hormones is extremely uncomfortable and can take a very long time. It is better to start with small doses of hormones and go up if needed than starting with large doses and then trying to come off.

In conclusion, while hormone pellets may seem like a convenient solution for balancing hormones and some women do have good results for a while, the associated risks make it an unreliable and potentially dangerous option for many. For a safer and more effective balancing of hormones, women should consider alternative treatments that allow for regular monitoring and adjustments without the irreversible risks presented by hormone pellets.