Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a type of treatment that involves taking hormones to prevent or treat certain medical conditions and/ or symptoms associated with female menopause and pre-menopause. These symptoms can include:
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia
- Vaginal atrophy
- Accelerated skin aging
- Vaginal dryness
- Decreased muscle mass
- Sexual dysfunction
- Night sweats
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- and More
A testosterone deficiency can lead to a cascading set of symptoms and problems throughout the body. By age 40, production of testosterone in women can decline by 50% or more. Androgen (testosterone) receptors are located in almost all tissues in the body, including:
- Breast tissue
- Heart
- Blood vessels
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Brain
- Bladder
- Uterus
- Vagina
- Ovaries
- Skin
- Bones
- Bone marrow
- Muscle
- Joints
- and Adipose Tissue
Fortunately, though, there is hope. Symptoms of menopause can be greatly improved through the use of hormone replacement therapy. Evidence shows that Testosterone Replacement Therapy significantly reduces symptoms in pre- and post-menopausal women, and can reduce cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, and certain types of cancer (such as breast cancer).
However, testosterone is a powerful hormone and therefore requires a safe and effective method of delivery into the body. This is where HRT pellet therapy comes in—Hormone Pellet Therapy is the safest and most practical way to deliver the necessary quantities of androgens to the body.
How does Hormone Pellet Therapy Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer?
In the United States, roughly 240,000 women developed breast cancer each year and some 40,000 will die as a result. Currently, it is estimated that 1 in 8 women run the risk of developing breast cancer over the course of a lifetime.
Long-term benefits of HRT also include reduced risk for different types of cancers and strengthened bones and immune systems.
Studies have shown the risk of breast cancer is associated with elevated levels of endogenous estrogen. Androgens (like testosterone) have been shown to counteract the negative effects caused by excess estrogen on mammary (breast) tissue. Incidentally, women with breast cancer have been shown to have significantly lower levels of testosterone in the body.
A 9-year Testosterone Therapy and Breast Cancer Incidence Study was conducted to explore the relationship between hormone levels and breast cancer.
Between the years 2010-2020 and more than one round of therapy, 640 Women were treated with either subcutaneous testosterone alone and 1,737 women testosterone and estradiol pellets. This is the largest study on the benefits of testosterone in women in reference to risk of breast cancer to date.
The results found a 35.5% reduction in invasive breast cancer in both groups treated with Testosterone and Testosterone/Estrogen compared with age-specific matched incident rates.
Subcutaneous Testosterone Implants Have Been Used Successfully Since 1937
Hormone Therapy through implants has been around for a lot longer than one might expect—subcutaneous testosterone implants have been used to treat hormone deficiencies in women since 1937.
Testosterone is increasingly becoming widely recognized as a vital hormone for women’s overall health. In fact, Testosterone Replacement Therapy has increased by a factor of 12 worldwide since the year 2000. In 2018, an International Consensus Group met regarding the use of testosterone replacement therapy in women and unanimously agreed that Testosterone was the most important hormone for women rat any stage of life.
So Why Are Hormone Therapy Implants Better?
Subcutaneous testosterone implants work better because they are a more controlled method of delivery. They allow for a more consistent and readily available level of hormones in the body compared to other methods, such as oral tablets or creams. Additionally, they require less maintenance and hassle. Pellets only need to be implanted every few months and provide steady supply of needed hormones to the body, resulting in fewer side effects for most users.
Get the Relief You Seek with Blue Sky MD
If you’re struggling with symptoms of menopause or at risk of breast cancer, pellets may be the ideal solution for you and your long-term health. Blue Sky MD have been at the forefront of hormone therapy practices in North Carolina for more than a decade. We’ve treated thousands of patients and helped them on the path to better health and prevention.
Contact us today for a consultation to see if hormone pellets are right for you, or schedule an appointment online today to get started.
Dr. David LaMond, MD
Director, CEO
Blue Sky MD
