Hormone Pellets

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Hormone Optimization · Ann Arbor

Pellet Hormone Therapy for Men and Women

Looking for steady hormone support without daily dosing? Pellet hormone therapy uses small, custom-compounded implants placed just beneath the skin. The pellet dissolves slowly and releases bioidentical hormones continuously for a consistent, 24/7 supply.

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Why Pellets

Four reasons patients choose pellet therapy

01 Consistent balance

Pellets release hormones steadily and are positioned as avoiding the highs and lows some people experience with creams or injections.

02 Convenient care

One insertion is described as providing months of therapy, without daily pills, creams, or patches.

03 Personalized dosing

Pellets are selected and dosed based on labs and symptoms, with individualized number and strength.

04 Monitored follow-up

Post-insertion labs around 4–6 weeks are used to confirm target range and guide future dosing choices.

Mechanism of Action

How pellet therapy works

Pellet therapy is described as a “steady BHRT option.” A rice-grain-sized pellet contains bioidentical estrogen, testosterone, or a tailored mix, and is implanted under the skin, typically in the hip/buttock fat, during a quick office procedure. Local anesthetic is used, a small incision is made, and the pellet is inserted with a specialized device. The pellet then dissolves gradually, releasing hormone continuously into the bloodstream.

Steady hormone levels

Pellets deliver a continuous, physiological dose of hormones over 3–6 months, mimicking the body’s natural steady-state production. This eliminates the weekly peaks and troughs common with injections and the daily fluctuations of creams or oral therapy. The result: stable energy, mood, and performance throughout the cycle.

Convenience and adherence

Once inserted, your therapy is on board for 3–6 months, no daily pills to remember, no creams or patches to apply, no weekly injections to schedule. The protocol works in the background while you focus on your life. For patients balancing demanding careers, families, and travel, pellet therapy is the most adherence-friendly modality available.

Direct absorption and digestion/liver pathway

Pellet-delivered hormones release directly into the capillary blood supply from subcutaneous fat tissue, bypassing the digestive tract and the liver’s first-pass metabolism entirely. This matters clinically. Oral estrogen, by contrast, must pass through the liver before reaching circulation, which can elevate clotting factors, inflammatory markers, and SHBG. Pellets, like transdermal therapy, avoid this hepatic pathway, delivering hormones in their active form, in physiologic doses, with a safer metabolic profile.

Responsive to your body’s natural rhythm

Because pellets release gradually based on cardiac output, hormone delivery rises slightly when your body needs more (during exercise, stress, or peak demand) and tapers when at rest. This responsive pattern more closely mirrors the body’s own endogenous hormone production than fixed-dose injections, oral therapy, or transdermal applications, which deliver the same amount regardless of physiological need. The result is a more natural, dynamic hormonal experience that adapts to your day.

Patient-reported outcomes and clinical evidence

Many of our patients describe feeling “like themselves again” within the first few weeks of pellet therapy: sustained energy, sharper focus, restored libido, and steadier mood. Published research on bioidentical hormone optimization has shown improvements in sexual function, mood, sleep quality, and bone mineral density when therapy is appropriately dosed and monitored. Individual results vary based on baseline labs, protocol design, and lifestyle factors. Your provider will establish your goals, monitor your progress through follow-up labs, and adjust your protocol to the levels at which you feel and function best.

Safety, candidacy, and clinical oversight

Hormone therapy is not one-size-fits-all. Every protocol at Arbour Longevity is individualized based on a thorough clinical evaluation, including symptom assessment, baseline laboratory testing, and a detailed review of your personal and family medical history.

For women considering hormone therapy: Candidacy is assessed in the context of factors such as history of blood clots, stroke, breast or other estrogen-sensitive cancers, and cardiovascular risk. Our providers prescribe the lowest effective dose, monitor your response through scheduled follow-up labs, and re-evaluate your protocol regularly. Hormone therapy is not appropriate for every patient, and certain populations carry elevated risk that must be weighed carefully.

For men considering testosterone therapy: A complete baseline panel is required before initiating treatment. Ongoing monitoring includes PSA and prostate health markers, hematocrit, hormone levels, and metabolic markers. These same clinical principles apply whether testosterone is delivered through injections, creams, or pellets. The delivery method does not change the standard of care.

A note on results and educational content: Outcomes vary based on individual biology, adherence, and baseline health status. No specific result is guaranteed. The information on this page is educational and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Reading this page does not establish a provider-patient relationship. To determine whether hormone therapy is appropriate for you, schedule a consultation with one of our providers.

Common Questions

What Patients Ask Us Most About Pellet Hormone Therapy

How long do hormone pellets last?

Pellet duration varies by sex and individual metabolism. For women, pellets typically last 3 to 6 months. For men, the average range is 3 to 4 months, due to higher testosterone metabolism and dosing requirements. Your provider will track your specific timeline at your follow-up labs and refine the schedule based on how your body responds.

What hormones can be delivered through pellets?

At Arbour Longevity, pellets are formulated with bioidentical estrogen, testosterone, or a customized combination, depending on your labs, symptoms, and clinical goals. Every formulation is compounded to meet your individual protocol. We do not use synthetic hormones.

Does the insertion procedure hurt? How long does it take?

The pellet insertion is a quick in-office procedure, typically completed in under 15 minutes. After applying a local anesthetic, your provider makes a small incision (usually in the upper hip area) and inserts the pellets just beneath the skin. Most patients report feeling only the initial numbing injection. The site is closed with steri-strips, no stitches required, and you return to normal activity the same day with light restrictions for 24 to 48 hours.

When are labs drawn after insertion?

Your first follow-up lab is scheduled 4 to 6 weeks after insertion. This timing allows your hormone levels to fully stabilize, giving your provider an accurate read on whether you have reached your optimal physiological range. These labs guide all future dosing decisions and ensure your protocol is calibrated to how you feel and function, not just to a number on a chart.

How many visits per year does pellet therapy require?

Most patients require 2 to 4 maintenance visits per year, depending on your individual pellet duration and protocol. This is one of the most adherence-friendly modalities in hormone optimization. No daily pills, no creams, no weekly injections. Just a handful of brief appointments to keep your levels steady year-round.

What is the BioTE method, and is that what Arbour Longevity uses?

BioTE is a structured pellet protocol developed for clinical consistency, including pellet sourcing, dosing algorithms, and provider training standards. Arbour Longevity uses BioTE-certified protocols as the foundation of our pellet therapy program, layered with our own personalized approach to lab interpretation, symptom tracking, and protocol refinement. Your provider will walk you through exactly how this applies to your treatment at your consultation.

Ready to Begin

Ready for steady, low-maintenance hormone support?

If you’re looking for a BHRT delivery option designed for consistency and convenience, pellet therapy may be a fit. Start with an evaluation and a lab-guided plan, then choose the delivery method that matches your goals and lifestyle.

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Information on this website is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Individual results vary and outcomes are not guaranteed.