Pellets & Pellet Therapy
02 / 18 / 15

Pellets & Pellet Therapy

What are Pellets Made Of?

The technical answer to that question is, “NDC 17-Beta Estradiol or NDC Testosterone compounded with diosgenin from the Mexican wild yam plant.” But, what does that mean?

The Mexican Wild Yam contains diosgenin, which is a sapogenin chemical very similar to the structure of cholesterol; which is the base material for these human hormones. NDC means National Drug Code, which are numeric identifiers assigned to each medication listed under Section 510 of the US Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and a list maintained by the FDA.

Imagine Baking a Cake

You would need milk, sugar, and eggs to mix with flour. In nature, our bodies have a “recipe” to make hormones. We mix a certain combination of say oxygen molecules, hydrogen molecules, and carbon molecules (milk, sugar, and eggs) and combine it with cholesterol (flour) to make 17-beta estradiol. In other combinations of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon mixed with cholesterol, testosterone is made. 

In compounding hormones, you would obtain NDC 17-beta estradiol and mix it with diosgenin from the yam and make the exact same molecular compound for estradiol as that which is made by nature in the body. The same for obtaining NDC testosterone, compounded with diosgenin to make testosterone in a molecular match to what is made in the body by the body. When these compounds are complete, a chemist could not tell the molecular difference from the “human” hormone to the molecular structure of the compounded “bioidentical” hormone.

Naturally Compounded Versus Synthetic

You cannot patent what occurs naturally in nature. Therefore you cannot manufacture natural hormones and “own” that recipe for exclusivity. In order to patent a “unique” form of a hormone, you must adjust the chemical structure so it is different from what occurs in nature. It is in the manipulation of the chemical structure that leads to the difference. An extra carbon molecule here or an extra hydrogen molecule there can make a big difference. A chemist could easily see the difference in the molecular structure of a synthetic hormone to a natural hormone.

Synthetic (Defined in Chemistry):

Produced by synthesis, especially not of natural origin; Not natural or genuine; Artificial or contrived; Prepared or made artificially.

The pellets we use are bio-natural, and are compounded to be exactly as nature intended.

Pellet Therapy

Pellet therapy is used to balance the hormones within the body by replenishing the hormones rather than replacing them. The hormones are used to decrease and even diminish the negative symptoms of menopause and perimenopause for women, and reverse testosterone deficiency for men.

The Procedure

The pellet is inserted into the body in a procedure done at the doctor’s office. Your doctor, in most cases, will insert the pellet in the upper buttock. A small incision is made and the pellet is placed with the proper sterile tools. The incision is then taped with several layers. The procedure takes only a few minutes and the pain is minimal.

Why Pellets?

Pellets are hassle-free, less harmful, and reliable. It slowly dissolves within the body, releasing the correct amount of hormones when your body needs it. Removal isn’t necessary. When the pellet has completely dissolved, a visit to your doctor can confirm that it is time for a new pellet to be inserted. With pills and creams, consistency isn’t guaranteed. Hormones taken orally must pass through the liver, which causes a greater chance of clots forming in the body. With this increase, the chances of a heart attack or stroke are also higher. Estrogen is the most important hormone for women. It helps fight heart attacks, strokes, as well as protect her from osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s. Pellet therapy is offered to men in the form of Testosterone. If there is a deficiency of testosterone within the body, this can result in depression, trouble sleeping, bone loss, erectile dysfunction, and loss of memory and concentration.

How Long do Pellets Last?

In women, once it is placed, the pellet releases the hormones for up to 3 to 4 months. In men, once the pellet is placed, the pellet will release hormones for 4 to 5 months.

After Insertion, How Long Until Patients Feel Effects?

In women, a small change may be seen after 24-72 hours after the insertion of the pellet. It may take up to a few weeks to feel a difference in some patients. Men usually see a change within 3-4 weeks.