What are testosterone pellets?

Testosterone pellets are a form of hormone replacement therapy. They are about the size of a grain of rice, and a doctor will implant them under the skin.
These pellets contain crystallized testosterone and deliver a steady, low dose of this hormone to the individual for up to 6 months at a time.”

How do testosterone pellets work?

They work by emitting a steady, low level of testosterone over a period of several months. A doctor will typically implant the pellets under the skin, or subcutaneously, near the hip or on the buttocks. This procedure is quick and can take place in the doctor’s office.

First, the doctor will thoroughly clean the area where they plan to implant the pellets. They will then administer a local anesthetic before making a small incision in the skin and using a tool called a trocar to insert about ten pellets.

The pellets should release a steady dose of the hormone for several months following the implantation.

What is hypogonadism?

Hypogonadism occurs when sex glands called gonads produce little, if any, sex hormones. It affects teenagers and adults of all genders.

“Currently, the most popular form of testosterone replacement is the topical gels that require daily applications and incur a risk of transfer of testosterone to partners and family. One of the problems with testosterone replacement is the short half-life of testosterone. A long-acting formulation is appealing to patients and physicians. In 1972, fused crystalline testosterone pellets were approved in the USA by the FDA but they were not marketed until 2008.” ~ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4431706/

A reported 20 to 40 percent of older men have a medical condition called hypogonadism and need testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). But there are drawbacks to TRT, including the potential for heart disease, high red blood cell count, and other conditions.

Successful hormone therapy involves getting just the right dose by the right delivery method for your individual needs. There are patches, creams, injections, and testosterone pellets.
A short, simple procedure is performed in your doctor’s office to implant the pellets under the skin, usually near your hip.

These pellets are a long-acting form of T therapy. They should deliver a stable, steady dose of testosterone, typically providing the needed level of hormone for 4-6 months.
It can take time to find the right dose for improving your symptoms of low testosterone. Too much testosterone can trigger dangerous side effects, including a rise in your red blood cell count (RBC). Research shows there are other risks for too much testosterone, too.

Finding the right dose may be a challenge for some people. You can work with your doctor to find the right dose for your body, which may also help you find the right method as well.

Why is testosterone important?

It is vital to a person’s overall health and well-being. Low levels of T can affect body composition unfavorably, and as people age, reduced T levels can also cause weight gain.
Low levels of T also affect sexual function, causing reduced sex drive, fewer erections, and infertility.

A range of symptoms can occur if testosterone production drastically drops below normal. Signs of low T are often subtle. Here are 12 signs of low T in men.

1. Low sex drive
2. Difficulty with erection
3. Low semen volume
4. Hair loss
5. Fatigue
6. Loss of muscle mass
7. Increased body fat
8. Decreased bone mass
9. Mood changes
10. Affected memory
11. Smaller testicle size
12. Low blood counts

Can I just eat more protein to increase my testosterone levels?

Protein is actually composed of amino acids, which are the building blocks of muscle mass. You may have noticed that when talking about muscle gains, I said “muscle protein synthesis.” This is because are muscles are made up of proteins—or amino acid chains—in our body.

But the protein that makes up our muscles is different than the protein that we consume.

Edible protein, like meats and protein powder, are actually hard for our stomachs to break down into nutrients. That’s why you may get a bloated stomach or gas rumblings after a meaty meal; your body is attempting to break down that protein.

In fact, if you have too much protein, your body actually goes into overdrive to try to digest that protein. Your overworked body actually releases cortisol in response to this “stressful” state of digestion.
Cortisol can have a lot of negative effects on our bodies in the long-term. But the most relevant effect here is that cortisol inhibits the production of testosterone.

So, just eating a high-protein diet will not increase your testosterone levels and may actually have the opposite effect!

Are pellets FDA approved?

The testosterone in the pellet are FDA approved. The manufacturing of pellets 503B outsourcing facilities is under strict regulations by the FDA.

Can women benefit from testosterone pellets?

For some women, hormone pellet therapy will be considered a superior method of hormone delivery. With this unique system, 2-3 small pellets consisting of testosterone or estradiol, each about the size of a grain of rice, are inserted beneath the skin, into the fatty tissue of the hip, and the pure hormone is delivered gradually, directly into the bloodstream. The simple in-office procedure takes only a few minutes, first with numbing of the skin, and one tiny incision that only requires a small steri strip, no stitches.

The subcutaneous pellets act as a reservoir of hormone, allowing the body to receive a consistent dose throughout the day and night. The pellets gradually absorb until they are completely dissolved, leaving no residue.

Testosterone is a vital hormone in women, eliciting physiologic effects through androgen receptors in almost all female body tissues, including breast, heart, blood vessels, intestines, lungs, brain, spinal cord, nerves, bladder, uterus, ovaries, endocrine glands, vaginal tissue, skin, bone, joints, and fatty tissue. Men produce higher circulating levels of testosterone than women; however, testosterone is the most abundant active sex hormone in a woman throughout her lifespan.

A common misconception among women is that higher testosterone levels, or hormone therapy that includes testosterone will increase muscle mass or make a woman grow a beard. This is simply not true. Hormone levels are regulated naturally by the body and your physician will run a test of those hormone levels before administering the therapy. This will ensure that you get the right dosage for your body.

If you’d like to learn more about common myths and misconceptions regarding testosterone therapy for women please visit:
Testosterone therapy in women: myths and misconceptions

For more information about testosterone pellets or to schedule an appointment to get started on treatment please visit or call SATS Urgent Care at (912) 964-CARE or come by the office located at 1444 Dean Forest Rd. The Village of Town Center Savannah Ga 31405