Bioidentical Hormone Pellet Therapy (BHPT)
Bioidentical Hormones
Bioidentical Hormone Pellet Therapy (BHPT)
As men and women age, our hormone levels drop and become imbalanced, which leads to a loss of mental clarity and focus, a sense of well-being, sexual desire, and other functions needed for a happy and healthy life. Overwhelming data support the fact that bioidentical hormone pellets effectively treat symptoms in both men and women. Pellets, placed under the skin, consistently release small, natural doses of hormones, providing optimal therapy without adverse effects. Drs. Armi Lynn Walker and Cary Shakespeare have done extensive research on the subject and are the first practitioners in Kern County to have successfully completed advanced training in bio-identical hormone pellet therapy at the nationally recognized Hormone Therapy Centers of America.
What Are Pellets?
How Long Until a Patient Feels Better After Pellets Are Inserted?
Some patients begin to “feel better” within 24-48 hours, while others may take 10–14 days to notice a difference. Diet and lifestyle (exercise), along with hormone balance, are critical for optimal health. Stress is a major contributor to hormone imbalance and illness. Side effects and adverse drug events from prescription medications may interfere with the beneficial effects of the testosterone implant.
Do Female Patients Need Progesterone When They Use Pellets?
Women who are treated with testosterone implants alone (no estrogen therapy) do not require progestin therapy.
However, if estradiol or other estrogen therapy is prescribed to a woman who still has her uterus, progestins are also needed. The main indication for progesterone is to prevent the proliferation (stimulation) of the uterine lining caused by estrogen. Bio-identical progesterone is not yet available in pellet form, but it is available in a pill called Prometrium, which is approved by the FDA. Prometrium has not been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer or have negative effects on the heart, like synthetic progesterone, has been associated with.
Progestin therapy is not required if estrogen therapy is not prescribed. However, there may be other health benefits from the hormone progesterone. It may be used in addition to other hormones to help women who have difficulty sleeping, hot flashes, tension, or anxiety. Testosterone and progesterone have beneficial effects on the brain and nervous system.
Why Pellets?
Pellets deliver consistent, healthy levels of hormones for approximately 4 months in women and 5 months in men. The pellets dissolve completely on their own during this time. They avoid the fluctuations, or ups and downs, of hormone levels (the roller coaster effect) seen with every other method of delivery. This is important for optimal health and disease prevention. Pellets do not increase the risk of blood clots or other complications that conventional/synthetic hormone replacement therapy has been associated with.
In studies comparing pellets to conventional hormone replacement therapy, pellets are superior for the relief of menopausal symptoms, maintenance of bone density, restoration of sleep patterns, and improvement in sex drive, libido, sexual response, and performance.
Estrogen deficiency has been suggested as “a state of accelerated aging.” The ultimate goal of estrogen delivered by subcutaneous pellets is to reproduce premenopausal levels of estrogen and FSH. This will reestablish the normal female estrogen physiology and alleviate symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep problems, irritability, joint and muscular discomfort, and physical and mental exhaustion.
Testosterone delivered by a pellet implant has been used to treat migraines and menstrual headaches. Testosterone also helps with vaginal dryness, incontinence, urinary urgency, and frequency. In both men and women, testosterone has been shown to increase energy, increase libido, relieve depression, increase a sense of well-being, relieve anxiety, and improve memory and concentration. Testosterone delivered by a pellet implant increases lean body mass (muscle strength, bone density) and decreases fat mass, especially belly fat. Men and women need adequate levels of testosterone for optimal mental and physical health and for the prevention of chronic illnesses like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, which are associated with low testosterone levels. It is a well-known fact that testosterone decreases with age in both men and women. Men lose 1–3% of total testosterone production per year after age 30 and women lose 50% of their testosterone production by age 40.
Even patients who have failed other types of hormone therapy have a very high success rate with pellets. There is no other “method of delivery” that is as convenient, effective, and safe for the patient as implants. Implants have been used in both men and women since the late 1930s. There is significant data that supports the use of bio-identical hormone implants in both men and women.
How Long Do Pellets Last?
The pellets usually last between 3-5 months in women and 4-6 months in men. The pellets do not need to be removed. They completely dissolve on their own, while also remembering that not all pellets are created equal. We are the first providers in Kern County to affiliate with the Hormone Therapy Centers of America, which have dedicated significant resources and research to finding a compounding pharmacy that produces the best pellets in the country.
Calm Cream™
Calm Cream™ is a leading cosmetic calming solution designed for individuals combating stress. Safe, effective, and entirely natural, Calm Cream harnesses the soothing properties of organic celery seeds and other calming seeds such as hemp, lavender, grape, flax, and sunflower. These ingredients provide calming benefits without sedation, offering a topical Zen experience to help you find tranquility amidst chaos. Calm Cream stands out as the only organic, non-GMO seed-based progesterone cream available, containing 7.5% bio-identical progesterone and boasting a preservative-free lavender scent, ideal for promoting a balanced state of mind. Simply apply one pump to the inner wrist and gently rub wrist to wrist to receive 75 mg of bio-identical progesterone along with a blend of beneficial seed oils.
Is There a Role for Testosterone Implants (pellets) in Premenopausal Females?
Testosterone pellets may be used in premenopausal females (women who have not stopped menstruating). Testosterone has been shown to relieve migraines and menstrual headaches, help with symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome), relieve anxiety and depression, increase energy, and help with sleep and libido. If a premenopausal female has a testosterone pellet inserted, birth control is recommended. There is a “theoretical risk of masculinizing” a female fetus.
How are Hormones Monitored During Therapy?
Hormone levels will be drawn and evaluated before therapy is started. Every patient will have individualized dosing that is calculated from these lab values: height and weight. This type of specific hormone dosing guarantees that you will receive the exact amount that your body needs. These labs include FSH, estradiol, and testosterone for women. Men need a PSA (prostate-specific antigen), sensitive estradiol, testosterone (free and total), liver profile, and a complete blood count prior to starting therapy. Thyroid hormone levels will be evaluated along with vitamin D, B12, and ferritin.
Men must notify their primary care physician and obtain a digital rectal exam each year. Women are advised to continue their monthly self-breast exams and obtain a mammogram and/or a pap smear as advised by their gynecologist or primary care physician.
Omega DE3
Product FAQs
De 3 provides 2240 mg of EPA and DHA in an ultra-purified triglyceride (rTG) form, ensuring high absorption and being free from contaminants like PCBs, lead, and mercury. Most store-bought omega-3 supplements offer less EPA and DHA in synthetic or unpurified forms, which are harder to absorb and may cause a fishy aftertaste.
To reach the recommended daily omega-3 intake of 2-3 grams (EPA+DHA), consuming enough fish could mean eating 37 cans of tuna weekly, risking mercury exposure. Farm-raised fish often lack omega-3s, while wild-caught fish may contain PCBs and mercury.
Flaxseed oil, rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), provides plant-based omega-3s but is less absorbable and effective than marine-based EPA and DHA. Research supports the superior absorption and systemic benefits of marine omega-3s.
*¹ Epitropoulos, Alice T., et al., “Effect of Oral Re-esterified Omega-3 Nutritional Supplementation on Dry Eyes.” Cornea, 2016.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Have More Questions?
For more information about Bioidentical Hormone Pellet Therapy (BHPT), please contact our office at 1801 16th Street, Suite C, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: 661-323-2884