How Do I Start?

  1. Stop into our office anytime M-Sat between 8am-4:00pm for a blood draw. You do not need to be fasting for the blood draw, be sure to drink plenty of water beforehand. Please bring a copy of your insurance card, often we can bill insurance for the lab work making it less expensive for you.
  2. On the day of your blood draw we will schedule a time for your initial consultation with the provider to review your lab results, symptoms, medical history and treatment options. You will also be given the new patient paperwork.
  3. Arrive for your appointment with the provider. Many of the treatment options can be started that day. If pellet therapy is your treatment preference, an appointment will be made for the pellet procedure.

Do I need hormone replacement?

Hormone replacement can improve many aspects of life. Women concerned with issues associated with the below should consider reaching out for an initial consultation.
• Delay the symptoms of aging
• Reverse depression and anxiety
• Regain libido
• Preserve skin and muscle tone
• Look younger
• Increase energy
• Strengthen the immune system
• Improve physical stamina
• Cure insomnia
• Thicken hair
• Protect against osteoporosis, dementia, diabetes, and heart disease
• Prevent need for long term care from loss of ability to walk
• Improve general health

What is Menopause?

Menopause is a normal, natural event defined as the final menstrual period and is confirmed when a woman has not had her period for 12 consecutive months. Prior to and during menopause, women start to lose an increasing amount of testosterone and estrogen. As levels decrease, women can experience symptoms from weight gain to migraines to depression and anxiety, among other things. Hormone balancing has the potential to help replenish levels to slow the signs of aging and reduce risk of potential issues in the future.

What hormones are being replaced?

This will be discussed further after we receive lab results confirming current levels. For many patients, low testosterone is large contributor to the symptoms they are feeling. Over the last decade, countless studies have been published regarding the importance of testosterone in women’s general well being and sexual functioning. As in men, testosterone levels in women decrease with age. While it is important to get these levels checked when approaching menopause, many women could benefit from starting hormone replacement therapy earlier.

How do Testosterone pellets work?

Testosterone pellets are a safe way to balance hormone levels. A small capsule is inserted in the upper-outer quadrant of the hip, and dissolves naturally when the hormone runs out in about 3-4 months. Pellets are affective in treating the symptoms of low libido, anorgasmia, depression, fatigue, muscle mass loss, weight gain, belly fat accumulation, immune system abnormality, autoimmune diseases, dry eyes, mental decline, loss of exercise stamina, loss of motivation, and many other symptoms of testosterone deficiency. Most women start seeing results in 3-4 weeks.

Do estradiol or testosterone pellets cause weight gain?

Testosterone increases the thickness of bones and muscles which increase lean body mass, but it also decreases fat at the same time. In general, women taking pellet hormones start by dropping sizes and begin to see more noticeable weight lose between 9-12 months.

How long will it take for me to start losing weight?

That depends on how much you exercise, your weight when treatment begins, and what other relevant medical conditions you have. When working with Elle, we encourage patients to talk with us often as they see, or don’t see, changes so we can optimize your pellet dose and get the right hormone balance for your body.

How long can I take pellets?

You can take pellet replacement hormones as long as you wish. Bio-identical pellet replacement is the closest thing to your natural hormones that you can receive. The replacement of both estradiol and testosterone prevents many of the diseases of aging. We treat patients into their 90’s!

What diseases can be delayed or avoided if I take testosterone pellets?

The known diseases that testosterone can delay or prevent include:
• Osteoporosis
• Auto-immune diseases
• Fibromyalgia
• Immune Deficiencies
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Frailty
• Heart Disease and Stroke
• Type II Diabetes
• Obesity
• Insulin Resistance

Can I take birth control pills with testosterone pellets?

We strongly suggest that you do not because it dampens the effects of the testosterone pellets. Instead of oral contraceptives we encourage our patients to get a Mirena IUD or permanent birth control (like a tubal ligation or have their husbands get a vasectomy) instead of taking the pill. Many women who insist on continuing the pill are disappointed in the resolution of their symptoms, and decide to seek out other birth control options. Birth control is, of course, not needed after menopause.

What other medications tend to inactivate estradiol and testosterone pellets?

We suggest you look for alternative medications for the following drugs:
• Corticosteroids such as prednisone
• Medrol Dosepak
• Tamoxifen
• Progestins (not progesterone) such as Provera
• DHEA that is not 7-keto DHEA
• Other hormones given orally like oral contraceptives
• Anti-depressants
• Drugs for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, which suppress the libido

I am a breast cancer survivor, can I take bio-identical testosterone pellets?

Yes. This is the safest form for you and it actually improves your immune system so that you can fight abnormal cells so they don’t grow, but instead are destroyed by T-killer cells.

Will I grow unwanted hair from the testosterone?

Testosterone will not cause any more facial hair growth than what you had when you were in your 30’s. There is also less of a chance of excess hair growth with natural testosterone than with synthetic hormones.