According to Healthline, “Your body’s hormones control most of your basic bodily functions. They serve as an internal communication system between cells throughout the body. They coordinate everything from digestion and growth to your appetite, immune function, mood, and libido. So, when your hormones are out of balance, even slightly, it can have a big impact on your health and well-being.”
Knowing this, what are you to do if you are suffering from a hormone imbalance? How can you lessen the symptoms and get your systems back in balance?
Luckily, there are a number of options available now for treating hormone imbalance, and some, like BioTe, are not only effective, but also simple and non-invasive.
Read on to learn more about BioTe from our Houston, Texas practice.
What do BioTe pellets do?
Hormone imbalance isn’t something every person has to worry about, but there are some factors, such as aging, that should have you starting to ask your doctor about BioTe pellets and how they work. More specifically, if you are suffering from weight gain, fatigue, muscle aches, frequent urination and/ or mood swings, it may be time to talk to your doctor about a potential hormone imbalance.
Aging in particular can cause the body to produce either too much or too little of a hormone/ hormones, which can, in turn, cause the aforementioned unwanted symptoms throughout the body. And while there are some invasive procedures aimed at improving hormone imbalance during times like menopause, if you are looking for a safer method, BioTe may be a good choice.
Using man-made hormones from plant estrogens, BioTe pellets are identical to the hormones your body would normally be producing. A doctor will insert these pellets into the skin so the hormones can then make their way throughout the body.
Estrogen and testosterone are the most common hormones used for BioTe, and according to the BioTe website, “Hormone replacement patients receive as few as two bioidentical hormone pellet insertions per year. The hormone is available when their bodies need it, and it’s a simple procedure done right in the provider’s office.”
How long does it take for BioTe pellets to work?
If BioTe is sounding too good to be true for those of you who are suffering from hormone imbalance, you may be questioning how long you will have to work to see your side effects start to subside.
While the effects of the procedure may not be immediate, those who have undergone BioTe treatments report them to be very effective, especially after the second round.
As BioTe explains, “Some patients report seeing improvement in as little as four weeks, but full optimization can take up to six months. Many patients report feeling the benefits after the second insertion.”
A study in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics looked into the efficacy of this form of hormone therapy even further:
“The occurrence and severity of menopausal symptoms decreased significantly after beginning bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Before treatment, moderate-to-severe symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, dry skin/hair, vaginal dryness, foggy thinking, mood swings and decrease in sex drive were reported in 52 % to 70% of the women. After initiating treatment the moderate-to-severe range of symptoms dropped to between 4% and 20%.”
What are the side effects of BioTe pellets?
Similar to questions about the speed of results, as using BioTe pellets for hormone therapy has gained popularity, many have wondered about the potential side effects.
The study in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics looked into this topic and had the following finding:
“A total of 160 surveys were [sic] distributed and 78 were completed. Overall, 57.7% of the women surveyed reported fewer side effects and 71.8% of the women had better relief of menopausal symptoms when using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.”
That being said, however, BioTe pellets as hormone therapy aren’t devoid of potential side effects. As the body adjusts to a new level of hormones (especially after the first dose), there is a potential to experience any of the following:
- Acne
- Facial hair growth
- Headaches
- Mood swings
- Tender breasts
- Bloating, cramping and/ or spotting
The Mayo Clinic went on to look into more serious side effects of hormone therapy, such as heart disease. Luckily, they found that the risk of severe issues following this procedure is very low.
“The risk of heart disease to an individual taking hormone therapy is very low. If you are in early menopause, have moderate to severe hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms, and are otherwise healthy, the benefits of hormone therapy likely outweigh any potential risks of heart disease.”
Do you gain weight with BioTe pellets?
As with any sort of hormone regulation, probably the biggest question that has emerged for those considering BioTe pellets is if weight gain will occur.
The short answer is yes, there is the potential of some weight gain with hormone therapy such as BioTe.
The study in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics stated that “The most commonly reported side effects with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy were weight gain (37.2%).”
All of this to say, most people who have used BioTe pellets for hormone therapy have found that the benefits far outweigh any potential weight gain. If you choose this route and are worried about weight gain, speak to your doctor about lifestyle choices that can help you manage your weight.
Can you combat vaginal dryness that accompanies hormone imbalance?
While BioTe treatment is a highly effective, non-invasive option for hormone imbalance, many with this imbalance still want a little extra help with vaginal dryness after BioTe therapy.
This is because, according to Yale Medicine, “A decrease in estrogen naturally happens during menopause—the stage of a woman’s life when she stops having menstrual cycles—and continues during post menopause, when estrogen levels stay permanently low. Estrogen helps keep the vaginal walls healthy and lubricated. As the hormone drops, the tissue gets drier and thinner.”
So while BioTe pellets can get your hormones back on track, for those still suffering from vaginal dryness, a combination of BioTe therapy and ThermiVa has proven highly effective. ThermiVa is “a non-invasive approach for labial and vaginal tightening as well as mild to moderate urinary incontinence.” In combination with BioTe, ThermiVa’s Radio frequency technology has shown to combat the vaginal dryness and pain that accompanies hormone imbalance.
As with BioTe therapy, ThermiVa is non-invasive, results in no pain or downtime, and is highly effective. In fact, one 30 minute treatment will typically produce results lasting one year or longer.
About Dr. Drake
Not only is Dr. Drake an expert in treating issues such as vaginal pain, vaginal atrophy, pelvic dysfunction and urinary incontinence, she has mastered the art of doing so with safe, effective and non-invasive treatments such as BioTe. Dr. Drake earned her Medical Doctorate at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and has since focused on treating her patients compassionately with alternative methods whenever possible.