Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy

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​Bioidentical hormones are used to treat men and women with low hormone levels. They have the same molecular structure as natural human hormones and work the same way.​ Pellet implants are a unique way to get the hormones used to treat hormone imbalances into the body.  In a simple, quick office procedure,  Dr. McCoy inserts a prescribed number of pellets under the skin in the upper buttock. These pellets will release steady small amounts of hormone directly into your bloodstream for several months.​ The goal of hormone pellet therapy is to provide patients with an enhanced sense of well-being. This could mean a return to the balance they once knew, or it could also mean providing a balance never felt by the patient before! In addition to feeling great, balancing hormones may be able to help reduce the risk of certain concerns connected to hormone health.  

Delivering these medications in pellet form has several benefits:

• Consistency — Pellets supply a consistent level of hormones in the bloodstream.
• Closest to nature — Pellets mimic your body’s natural delivery system more closely than any other method.
• Convenience — You don’t need to worry about remembering to take your medication daily. Hormone pellets only need to be inserted 2-4 times per year.
• Fewer side effects — Pellet therapy bypasses the liver, sending hormones directly into the bloodstream, and avoiding certain side effects of oral medications.

Pellet hormone therapy typically benefits people who have symptoms of hormone imbalance related to age or other factors. In addition to serious medical conditions, as hormone levels decline, both men and women can feel less like “themselves” than when they were younger. They may not have the strength or energy they once had, sex may be difficult or uncomfortable, they may gain or lose weight, and they may be more sensitive to heat and cold. All kinds of things can change, from hair and skin to memory, when the body isn’t producing its optimal level of hormones.
 

Having low testosterone means more than just a low sex drive. Hormones are important for regulating most major bodily processes. Symptoms consistent with low testosterone include:

• Low sex drive
• Fatigue
• Loss of muscle mass
• Increased body fat (especially in the waist area)
• Decreased bone mass
• Mood changes
• Low mood
• Irritability
• Brain fog
• Elevated blood sugar
• Stress
• Anxiousness
• High cholesterol
  

Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream. Because of their essential role in the body, even the smallest hormonal imbalance can cause side effects throughout the body. There are a variety of symptoms of hormone imbalance in women including:

• Fatigue
• Night sweats
• Hot flashes or flushes
• Decreased sex drive
• Weight gain
• Trouble sleeping
• Irritability
• Anxiousness
• Mood swings
• Low mood
• Discomfort during intercourse​

Bioidentical refers to how molecularly similar the supplemental hormone is to the human hormone.  Our office utilizes bioidentical pellet therapy.  Pellet therapy is the preferred method of hormone replacement, as it most closely mimics the body's hormone production.  Pellets provide a steady state release of hormones and are a safe and effective method of HRT.  People who lack certain hormones or who have too much of a certain hormone may benefit from BHRT.  By using natural hormones rather than synthetic, the risks of blood clots, cancer, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease are reduced.  During an in-office visit, which only takes a few minutes, the insertion site is numbed, a small incision is made in the upper buttocks, the hormone pellet is inserted, and a small bandage is placed over the insertion site. It can take up to three to six months after the first insertion for a state of hormone balance to be achieved.

Before making a treatment recommendation, Dr. McCoy will conduct a physical exam, review your medical history and review your symptoms.  We will also order laboratory tests to check your current hormone levels.  After collecting your information, the physician will make recommendations that align with your individual needs.  Not everyone will be a candidate to receive BHRT (bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.)   To get started, or to determine if you qualify for treatment, call or message us.