Hormone Pellet Therapy: What to Know First

Hormone replacement therapy pellets at Willow and Oak are $350–$500, available for men and women, and require a consultation with our medical provider before anything is scheduled.

That last part is not a formality. It is the most important sentence on this page.

This is a prescription medical service

Hormone therapy is medicine. It is not a spa add-on, it is not something to try because a friend recommended it, and it is not appropriate for everyone.

It involves a medical assessment, a discussion of your history, and a clinical judgement by a provider about whether it is suitable for you. Our medical director oversees the medical services at this practice, and this is squarely one of them.

What "pellet-based" means

The delivery method. Pellets are one of several ways hormone therapy can be administered, and they are the method we offer here.

Whether pellets specifically are the right route for you — as against any other, or as against no hormone therapy at all — is part of what the consultation establishes.

What we are not going to promise you

Hormone therapy is marketed heavily, and a lot of that marketing makes claims about energy, mood, weight, sleep, libido and general vitality that run well ahead of what anyone can responsibly guarantee an individual patient.

We are not going to do that. What we will tell you is:

• Whether, in our provider's clinical judgement, this is appropriate for you
• What the process involves
• What it costs, before you commit to it
• What follow-up looks like

If you want promises about how you will feel, we are not the clinic for that, and we would gently suggest being cautious of clinics that are.

Risks and suitability

There are medical conditions, medications and personal histories that make hormone therapy inadvisable. There are people for whom the sensible answer is no, and people for whom the sensible answer is "not yet, let us look into this first".

Your provider will ask detailed questions. Answer them fully — including anything you might be inclined to leave out. The assessment is only as good as the information it is based on.

Questions worth bringing

• Is this appropriate for me specifically, and why?
• What are the risks in my case?
• What does follow-up involve, and how often?
• What does the total cost look like over a year, not just today?
• What happens if I want to stop?

A good provider will welcome all of these.

What the process looks like

Broadly: assessment first, then a decision about whether to proceed, then treatment if it is appropriate, then follow-up. The specifics of testing, timing and review are determined by your provider based on your case — which is why we are describing the shape rather than the detail.

What you should expect throughout is that a licensed provider is making the clinical decisions and that you can reach someone with a question.

Common questions

How do I know if I need this?

You do not, from the internet, and neither do we from here. That is what the assessment establishes. Symptoms that people associate with hormones have many possible causes, several of which have nothing to do with hormones at all.

Is it available for men as well as women?

Yes. Our menu lists pellet therapy for both.

How often would I need to come in?

Your provider will explain the schedule at consultation, including follow-up.

What are the side effects?

This is a proper medical conversation, specific to you and to your history, and your provider will have it with you before anything is decided. Anyone discussing hormone therapy with you should raise risks unprompted.

Can I stop if I change my mind?

Ask your provider directly what stopping involves in your case. It is a reasonable question and you should have the answer before you start, not after.

Will my insurance cover it?

Aesthetic and elective services are generally not covered. Ask us about cost directly and we will tell you.

Do you require blood work?

Your provider will tell you what assessment your case requires.

Booking

Consultations happen at our Hendersonville clinic, 126 Stadium Drive. If you are considering hormone therapy anywhere — here or elsewhere — insist on a proper medical assessment first.

Prices shown are starting prices and are subject to change. Every plan is confirmed at consultation.