Experience long and lasting relief of hot flashes, night sweats, low libido (low sex drive) 24/7 for up to 6 months.
When it comes to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) pellets, Vida’s pellet therapy is the preferred choice. When a patient decides to start Vida’s pellet therapy, they may receive as few as two to three subcutaneous pellet insertions per year, ensuring that any needed hormone is readily available when the body requires it. The BHRT pellets that Vida’s physicians choose are identical to the hormones naturally produced by the human body.
Once the decision is made to use hormone therapy, another decision follows: Which method is the best fit for you? For some women, hormone pellet therapy may be the superior choice for hormone delivery. With this unique system, 2–3 small pellets containing testosterone or estradiol—each about the size of a grain of rice—are inserted beneath the skin into the fatty tissue of the hip, allowing the pure hormone to be gradually and directly delivered into the bloodstream. This simple in-office procedure takes only a few minutes, beginning with numbing the skin, followed by a tiny incision that requires only a small Steri-Strip, with no stitches needed.
The subcutaneous pellets act as a reservoir of hormones, ensuring the body receives a consistent dose throughout the day and night. The pellets gradually dissolve completely, leaving no residue. Typically, a woman will find that pellets help control symptoms for 3–5 months. Because of the efficient and gradual delivery system of hormone pellets, side effects are less likely than with oral or injectable hormones. Additionally, this method reduces the risk of absorption issues often associated with hormone creams, gels, or patches.
Both women and men experience a hormone-rich environment between the ages of 15 and 35. This is because these years mark the peak of fertility. However, after the childbearing years—typically in the early 40s to 50s—many women begin to experience symptoms associated with the natural decline of hormones, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and low sex drive. There is nothing “natural” about enduring these disruptive symptoms. The truly natural approach is to restore the body’s hormone levels until it is genuinely ready to function without them.
By taking the time to read the summary below, you will likely gain a deeper understanding of female hormones than many physicians. A solid grasp of these hormones will help you see why Pellet Therapy stands out as the superior form of hormone replacement therapy. So, let’s begin…
Once a female reaches puberty, her ovaries will wake up and start producing three main hormones: estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone. These are called sex hormones. To appreciate the full benefits of pellet therapy, let’s briefly talk about the functions of these hormones.
The main purpose of the three sex hormones is very primitive, dating back to the cavemen (and cavewomen) era. The sex hormones are designed to increase a female’s chance of successfully getting pregnant and starting a family. Each month, during the childbearing years, the ovaries will start producing estradiol. Its purpose is twofold: estradiol causes one egg to mature, and it stimulates the inner layer of the uterus to become richly vascularized in hopes that the egg will implant on it. In the middle of the month, the ovaries will switch gears and start producing the next two sex hormones. Progesterone’s role is to stabilize the thickened inner uterine layer so that any implanted egg will have a better chance of remaining in place. The role of testosterone is very primitive in that it serves to rev up the sex drive (libido) in hopes of successfully fertilizing the mature egg.
After Mother Nature says, “You should’ve had all your kids by now” (late 30s to early 40s), she begins to reduce the function of your ovaries and, therefore, your sex hormones. This natural decline in sex hormones and the symptoms associated with it is referred to as perimenopause.
The drop in estradiol and progesterone causes inconsistent thickening and instability of the inner uterine layer, sometimes resulting in irregular periods.
The decline in testosterone often leads to a decrease in sex drive (libido).
By the time a woman reaches her late 40s to early 50s, the ovaries no longer produce sex hormones. This lack of sex hormones and the symptoms associated with it are referred to as menopause.
For some women, the absence of estradiol can lead to uncontrolled vasomotor symptoms, commonly known as hot flashes and night sweats. Estradiol deficiency can also cause vaginal dryness, leading to painful intercourse.
The lack of testosterone can have profound effects as well. Not only does sex drive diminish, but low testosterone levels can also result in increased anxiety, poor mental clarity, decreased zest for life, difficulty retaining lean muscle, and a lack of energy.
When I see women for consultations, testosterone deficiency symptoms are often the most predominant.
If you are experiencing any of the menopausal symptoms mentioned above, you may greatly benefit from estradiol and testosterone replacement therapy. The first step is to schedule a consultation, during which a complete medical history will be obtained. All hormone replacement therapy consultations are conducted by one of our medical providers at our clinics in Orange County and Inland Empire.
The second step is to undergo blood work to confirm low hormone levels. Additional lab tests may also be conducted to help determine the appropriate dosage of estradiol and testosterone replacement therapy.
Estradiol replacement is available in the form of pills, capsules, creams, gels, patches, and subdermal pellet therapy.
Testosterone replacement is available in the form of injections, creams, gels, and subdermal pellet therapy.
At Vida, our medical providers exclusively offer estradiol and testosterone replacement through pellet therapy. Why? Because no other form of hormone replacement can maintain steady blood levels 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 4 to 6 months at a time—period. In fact, pellet therapy is the closest method to mimicking the way your ovaries naturally produce hormones.
Estradiol and testosterone pellets are both bio-identical and bioavailable, meaning they have the same structure and function as the estradiol and testosterone naturally produced by your body.
A small area of skin near the back hip pocket is numbed, followed by a tiny, painless incision. A small insertion device (called a trocar) is then used to place the rice-sized pellets beneath the skin. The incision site is closed with steri-strips (a special surgical tape) and covered with a pressure gauze dressing. Most patients find the procedure virtually painless.
Before the procedure, we determine the ideal estradiol and testosterone dosages based on your age, symptom severity, body weight, and lab values.
After the procedure, we recheck your blood levels in six weeks to ensure proper dosing. A follow-up blood test is conducted at four months to determine the timing of your next pellet insertion
We recommend avoiding high-impact activities (e.g., running, jogging, step aerobics), lower-body weight resistance training (e.g., leg squats, leg curls, leg extensions), and hot tubs for one week after the procedure. After that, there are no restrictions.
If your pre-treatment symptoms were truly due to low sex hormone levels, you will be very happy in 2-4 weeks. Some individuals notice an improvement in menopausal symptoms sooner, while others may take a little longer.
If you still have a uterus and require Estradiol for hot flashes, night sweats, or vaginal dryness, your periods may restart. However, this does not mean you are ovulating again.
Cyclic progesterone is required if you still have a uterus. We prescribe progesterone in the form of oral capsules, taken for two weeks each month. The purpose is to stabilize any thickened uterine lining that builds up under the effects of Estradiol. After completing two weeks of progesterone, any built-up uterine lining may shed in the form of a mild to moderate period. Sometimes, no period occurs.
Some women prefer not to have their periods restart. In this case, there are only two options: either you do not receive Estradiol pellets, or you take progesterone daily to prevent the thickening of the uterine lining.
We know that feeling your best is key to living a fulfilling life, and we’re here to help you achieve it.
At Vida Health Clinic, we provide advanced Hormone Replacement Therapy tailored to your unique needs. Our expert team is dedicated to enhancing your well-being, so you can feel balanced, energized, and at your best every day.
Your Trusted Local Partner: For years, we’ve proudly served the Los Angeles community, earning the trust and respect of our neighbors through exceptional care and personalized treatments.
Real Transformations, Real Results: Countless success stories from our patients highlight the life-changing benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy at Vida Health Clinic.
