HRT / Pellet Therapy

What is HRT / Pellet Therapy Treatment?

Hormone replacement therapy and pellet therapy are designed to help address symptoms related to hormone imbalance or deficiency. Hormone therapy may be considered as part of an individualized wellness plan after review of symptoms, health history, medications, and laboratory findings when appropriate.

How Does It Work?

Hormones are prescribed based on clinical evaluation and may be delivered through pellets or other methods to help support more consistent hormone levels. Pellet insertion is performed through a small incision, usually in the upper buttock or hip area. The pellet gradually releases hormone over time, and dosing may require adjustment based on symptoms, labs, response, and provider recommendation.

Pre-Treatment Instructions

Tell your provider about all medications, supplements, allergies, medical conditions, recent procedures, and changes in your health.
Inform your provider if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to become pregnant, or have unexplained vaginal bleeding.
Inform your provider if you have active or suspected hormone-sensitive cancer, history of blood clots, recent stroke, heart attack, liver disease, or uncontrolled medical conditions.
Complete any recommended laboratory testing, medical history forms, and consent forms before treatment.
Tell your provider if you take blood thinners or medications that may increase bleeding or bruising.
Ask questions before treatment if any instruction, risk, or alternative option is unclear.

What to Expect During Treatment

Your provider will review symptoms, medical history, medications, and lab work when appropriate.
Pellet insertion is performed through a small incision, usually in the upper buttock or hip area.
The area may be cleaned, numbed, and dressed after insertion.
Mild bruising, tenderness, swelling, bleeding, or spotting at the insertion site may occur.
Symptom improvement may take several weeks and dosing may require adjustment.

Post-Treatment Care and Expectations

Keep the insertion site clean and dry as instructed.
Do not remove dressings early unless instructed.
Avoid strenuous lower-body exercise, soaking, swimming, hot tubs, or heavy lifting for the period recommended by your provider.
Mild soreness, bruising, tenderness, swelling, or spotting can occur and typically improves gradually.
Report worsening pain, drainage, redness, fever, or pellet extrusion.
Hormone therapy effects are gradual and may require follow-up labs or dose adjustments.

What to Avoid

Avoid strenuous lower-body exercise, squats, lunges, heavy lifting, cycling, or high-friction activity for the period recommended by your provider.
Avoid baths, pools, hot tubs, saunas, or soaking until the insertion site is healed or as directed.
Avoid picking at the dressing, incision, scab, or insertion site.
Avoid changing or adding hormone medications, supplements, or dose schedules without provider guidance.
Avoid missing follow-up visits or lab monitoring recommended by your provider.

Skin Care

Keep the insertion site clean and dry as directed.
Leave dressings in place until the time recommended by your provider.
Do not apply lotions, oils, exfoliants, or irritating products directly over the incision until healed.
Do not pick, scratch, or remove scabbing or adhesive residue aggressively.
Contact your provider if the site becomes increasingly red, warm, painful, swollen, draining, or opens.

Additional Recommendations

Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments and complete lab work as recommended.
Track symptom changes, side effects, sleep, mood, bleeding pattern changes, libido, acne, breast tenderness, or fluid retention to discuss with your provider.
Maintain hydration, balanced nutrition, sleep, and regular movement as appropriate for your health status.
Continue routine preventive care with your primary care provider, gynecologist, or specialist as appropriate.
Notify your provider of new diagnoses, surgeries, medications, or major health changes while on therapy.

Integrative Therapy Options

Vitamin injections or IV therapy may be discussed when appropriate to support overall wellness goals; they do not replace hormone monitoring or medical care.
Medical weight loss, nutrition guidance, strength training, and lifestyle support may be recommended when hormone symptoms overlap with metabolic or body-composition goals.
Pharmaceutical-grade skincare may be recommended if hormone changes contribute to acne, dryness, oiliness, or skin changes.
A Haus Ritual Facial or Hydrafacial may be recommended for skin support if appropriate for your treatment plan.
Any integrative therapy should be reviewed with your provider to ensure it is appropriate for your medical history and current medications.

Risks and Possible Side Effects

While HRT / Pellet Therapy is generally well tolerated when performed by qualified providers, side effects may include but are not limited to:

Bruising, swelling, tenderness, bleeding, infection, scarring, or pellet extrusion at the insertion site.
Acne, hair growth, mood changes, breast tenderness, fluid retention, changes in libido, or changes in bleeding patterns.
Hormone levels may become too high or too low and require adjustment.
Blood clot, cardiovascular, gallbladder, or cancer-related risks may apply depending on individual history, hormone type, dose, route, and therapy plan.
Pellet therapy may be difficult to reverse quickly once inserted, and side effects may persist while the pellet releases hormone.
Compounded or non-FDA-approved hormone formulations may have different oversight, dosing consistency, or safety data than FDA-approved products.

Results vary individually and cannot be guaranteed.

When to Contact Your Provider

Please call our office if you experience:

Worsening pain, redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, pus, bleeding, fever, or concern for infection at the insertion site.
Pellet extrusion or opening of the incision site.
Persistent acne, mood changes, breast tenderness, fluid retention, changes in bleeding patterns, or other hormone-related symptoms.
Symptoms that feel too strong, insufficient symptom improvement, or concerns about dosing.
Any other concerning or unexpected symptoms following treatment.

Seek Immediate or Emergency Care If

You experience chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden severe headache, weakness on one side, confusion, fainting, or vision changes.
You develop symptoms of a blood clot such as new one-sided leg swelling, severe calf pain, warmth, redness, or sudden shortness of breath.
You experience severe allergic-type symptoms such as hives, throat tightness, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or face.
You have heavy uncontrolled bleeding, severe pelvic pain, or symptoms that feel urgent.

Follow-Up Care

Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments so your provider can monitor your response, insertion site healing, symptoms, and lab values when appropriate.
Repeat treatment timing varies by hormone type, dose, patient response, and treatment plan.
Your provider may recommend repeat labs or follow-up visits before additional dosing.
Discuss dose adjustments, maintenance plans, side effects, or alternative treatment options with your provider if needed.
Continue routine preventive care and screening recommended by your primary care provider, gynecologist, or specialist.

FAQ

Q: How long does it take to feel results?

A: Symptom improvement may take several weeks. Timing varies by individual, hormone levels, baseline symptoms, and dose response.

Q: How long do pellets last?

A: Duration varies by patient and formulation. Your provider will recommend follow-up timing based on your treatment plan, symptoms, and labs.

Q: Can the dose be adjusted?

A: Yes, dosing may require adjustment based on response, side effects, and lab monitoring. Pellet therapy cannot be quickly removed once inserted, so careful dosing and follow-up are important.

Q: Is hormone therapy right for everyone?

A: No. Hormone therapy may not be appropriate for patients with certain cancers, clotting history, unexplained bleeding, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or uncontrolled medical conditions.

Q: Will results be guaranteed?

A: No. Results vary individually and cannot be guaranteed.

Summary

HRT / Pellet Therapy can be a helpful treatment option when performed for the right candidate with proper preparation, realistic expectations, medical review, and appropriate follow-up care.

If you have any questions or concerns before or after your treatment, please contact our office.