Hormone Replacement Therapy

Alive Health+Wellness

Hormone replacement therapy can correct and balance testosterone and estrogen levels.

How it Works

The BioTE method is a form of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy that utilizes custom-compounded pellets containing testosterone and estrogen. These hormones are bioidentical to the ones naturally present in the body and aim to restore hormones to their optimal levels. The pellets, which are about the size of a grain of rice, are inserted subcutaneously in the buttocks. They release hormones continuously, providing a steady supply that aligns with the body’s needs. This helps address symptoms and imbalances associated with hormone deficiency.

One of the key advantages of the BioTE method is its long-lasting effects. The pellets dissolve slowly over time, resulting in a prolonged release of hormones. As a result, patients typically only need to undergo re-administration every 4 to 6 months, depending on their individual requirements. This infrequent dosing schedule reduces the need for frequent medical visits and simplifies the overall treatment process.

The BioTE method offers a convenient and effective approach to restoring hormonal balance. By utilizing bioidentical hormones and providing sustained hormone release, it allows individuals to experience consistent symptom relief and achieve optimized hormone levels for an extended period. This treatment option provides an alternative to daily hormone therapies and offers patients the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of hormonal balance without frequent intervention. If you’re looking for hormone therapy near me, we’d be happy to assist.

couple getting hormone replacement therapy by Alive Health + Wellness in St. Louis, MO

This Treatment Can Help Combat The Following

Hormone Optimization With Biote

What Is the Goal of Hormone Optimization Therapy?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) may offer relief for many common and debilitating symptoms that medical providers often overlook. Some of these symptoms include:

  • Exhaustion
  • Stress
  • Foggy thinking
  • Weight gain
  • Sleep disturbances
  • And so much more

Often, people with symptoms like these are suffering from hormonal imbalance. These ailments may be managed by getting to the root cause of these complex conditions and returning the patient to a state of hormonal balance. BHRT may be a simple method for correcting these complex issues through hormone optimization.*
couple happy with hormone replacemenbt therapy by Alive Health + Wellness in St. Louis, MO

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement

Bioidentical hormone replacement pellet therapy is a personalized approach to hormone replacement. It allows a patient’s body to absorb the right level of hormones at the right time using a delivery method the body can process efficiently.

Pellets are small capsules (about the size of a grain of rice) that contain bioidentical hormones like testosterone or estrogen. A bioidentical hormone is the exact molecular structure of hormones the body produces naturally.

They are inserted under the skin, where hormones enter the bloodstream as they dissolve over several months. Our studies show that patients may see the effects of hormone optimization up to four weeks after a pellet insertion. Everyone is unique and some people may feel the effects immediately, while others may take up to two or more pellet insertions before they feel full effects.

Hormones delivered by pellet therapy bypass the liver, do not affect clotting factors, do not increase the risk of thrombosis, and avoid the fluctuations of hormone levels some patients may experience.* Biote bioidentical hormone pellets are made from soy or the yam plant to create estradiol or testosterone molecules, unlike synthetic hormones, which are made from animal parts or urine and have a different molecular structure than what the body produces.

First, a patient can find a Biote Certified Provider near them. If their healthcare provider is not listed, they can nominate a provider to become certified. Next, they schedule an office visit to test their current hormone levels. Based on a comprehensive consultation and extensive lab work, providers will determine candidacy for the Biote Method. Patients will schedule a quick follow-up appointment to review their results and, when appropriate, for pellet therapy insertion.

As each patient’s symptoms are unique, so is each patient’s path to hormone optimization. Some patients report some relief in as soon as four weeks, but full hormone optimization may take up to six months. Many report feeling more benefits after the second insertion. The Biote Method of hormone optimization therapy will be customized to balance each patient’s hormones and fit their specific needs.

Signs of Hormone Imbalances

Hormonal imbalances may 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.

Signs And Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance in Women

Signs And Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance in Women by Alive Health + Wellness in St. Louis, MO

There are a variety of symptoms of hormone imbalance in women and may include:

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

Signs And Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance in Men

Signs and Symptoms Hormonal Imbalance in Men by Alive Health + Wellness in St. Louis, MO

Symptoms consistent with low testosterone and other cases of male hormonal imbalance may include:

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

Pellet Therapy FAQs

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, or BHRT, is a form of hormone therapy that has existed in the U.S. for many decades and uses hormones that are structurally similar to those found within the human body.
Bioidentical hormones, such as the ones used by Biote, work with the body’s chemistry because they closely replicate the molecular structure of the hormones that normally occur within the body.

Biote Certified Providers receive training on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in the form of subcutaneous pellets. These pellets are inserted into the upper buttocks area during an in-office visit after testing is done to determine the exact quantity of the hormone the patient requires. Every dose is customized based on a consultation and extensive lab work to ensure a patient receives the exact concentration of hormones needed.

Bioidentical hormones, such as the ones used in training by Biote, work with the chemistry of the body because they replicate the molecular structure of the hormones that normally occur within the body. 

Yes, there are two major pellet therapy types: estrogen pellets and testosterone pellets.

Estrogen is a hormone that possesses many functions and occurs in the bodies of both men and women. In women, estrogen is commonly associated with reproduction—it prompts the menstrual cycle and develops the female body’s secondary sex characteristics. However, in both sexes, estrogen is responsible for many facets of bone health, cholesterol metabolism, and the thickness and collagen content of the skin.

Estrogen pellets are small cylinders that are custom compounded and composed of estradiol, a form of estrogen. Estrogen pellets may relieve emotional, reproductive, and non-reproductive symptoms. The most common administration for estrogen pellets is to help address the uncomfortable symptoms of aging in women.

In women, estrogen levels are reduced as they get older. Hormone levels in women drop most dramatically during perimenopause (immediately before menopause) and during menopause. In fact, after female menopause, many men may have higher estrogen levels than women. If a woman has had a radical hysterectomy involving the removal of both ovaries, her estrogen levels will struggle significantly, as the ovaries’ primary responsibility is estrogen production. Although adrenal glands produce some estrogen, as does fat tissue, this is often not enough to effectively balance and maintain women’s hormone levels.
Estrogen pellets are primarily used to combat the effects of menopause. Studies have shown that estrogen may also help relieve some symptoms associated with mood, bone density, and heart health.
Pellets last up to three to six months depending on gender, weight, absorption rates, and the amount of deficiency or surplus of hormones present within the patient at the time of insertion. Pellets are reinserted between two to four times per year to help keep hormones optimized and balanced and may take up to two insertions before feeling the full benefits.
No fasting is required in advance of the insertion.
Biote Certified Providers require extensive lab work while considering a patient’s candidacy for BHRT using pellets. A provider will discuss the results with a patient before moving forward with pellet therapy.
During the in-office visit, which only takes a few minutes, patients are brought into the exam room, and the insertion site is numbed. The most common site of insertion is the upper buttocks. A small incision is then made for pellet insertion. Once the pellet is inserted, the insertion site is covered with a small bandage.
Since pellets are bioidentical and contain hormones like those our body produces, pellets are completely dissolved and absorbed, leaving nothing behind.

After pellet insertion, it’s best to abstain from lower body exercise. Walking should be fine, but strenuous activity is not recommended. Avoid bathtubs, swimming, and hot tubs; however, showers are permitted. After removal of the bandage, normal activity may resume.

As each patient’s symptoms are unique, so is each patient’s path to hormone optimization. The Biote Method is customized to fit a patient’s specific needs.
Testosterone is a hormone normally found in both men and women that is responsible for many critical body processes. Testosterone is produced in the testes and ovaries, and deficiencies can occur in men and women as the body ages.
Testosterone pellets are composed of powdered testosterone fused into a pellet using stearic acid as a binding agent. The compounding pharmacies used by Biote provide high-quality pellets with ingredients that are meticulously tested. This testing process gives pharmacists, Biote Certified Providers, and patients confidence in the pellets’ quality.

Testosterone has been shown to relieve a wide range of reproductive, emotional, and non-reproductive conditions. Some of these include low energy, sexual dysfunction, mood swings, irritability, and many others.

Every person’s body is different, but at the end of a pellet cycle or when stopping pellet therapy altogether, symptoms of fatigue, low mood, and sleeplessness may recur. Typically, the patient’s symptoms will return to the same state prior to BHRT as their estrogen and testosterone levels begin to drop.

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