I can't bring myself emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, or physically to use hormone pellets with my patients. Hormone pellets are tiny pellets containing hormones and medications inserted under your skin and replaced every three to six months. In my clinic, many unhappy patients come to me with complications from pellets. Outside of my clinical experience, I also tried pellets myself a few years ago, which was the worst experience of my life. Looking at the science, there are much better methods of getting bioidentical hormones, such as topical creams and sublingual troches, and they don’t come with the downsides of hormone pellets. Today I’m sharing the top ten reasons why I’m a pellet anarchist, misleading ways that pellets are marketed, the things women need to know before using pellets, and what to do if you’ve had pellets and want to make a change.   Highlights How hormone pellets work Pitfall #1: They’re expensive Pitfall #2: Hormone levels are too high Pitfall #3: It’s a surgical procedure Pitfall #4: Once they’re in, they don’t come out Pitfall #5: You’re subjected to minor surgery every 3-6 months Pitfall #6: Irregular absorption rates Pitfall #7: It’s a cash cow for providers Pitfall #8: Who’s inserting them? Pitfall #9: It’s a club Pitfall #10: You’re a number What you can do if you’ve had pellets and you want to make a change Bioidentical hormones versus synthetic hormones   This episode is sponsored by: Femmenessence It's a rare occurrence to find a non-prescription supplement that becomes a go-to for hormone health and Femmenessence is just that. Whether you’re pre-menopausal, menopausal, or struggling with PMS, irregular periods, or other hormone imbalances, I highly recommend giving Femmenessence a try. Visit Femmenessence.com (https://femmenessence.com/) and use my code SHAWN20 for exclusive savings.   Needed Few things are as important in a woman's life as that journey to and through motherhood. There's so much that you can't control, but nutrition is a big one you can. Needed is a perinatal and women's health brand that I recommend to all my clients, whether they're in that perinatal stage or navigating perimenopause. Needed offers radically better nutrition products and education, backed by over 4000 practitioners. Visit ThisIsNeeded.com (https://thisisneeded.com/) and use my code DrT for 20% off your first month.   Resources Dr. Tassone's Practice https://www.drshawntassone.com/ The Hormone Balance Bible https://tassonemd.com/hormone-balance-bible/ Hormone Archetype Quiz https://tassonemd.lpages.co/hormonearchetypequiz/   Disclaimer This podcast and website represent the opinions of Dr. Shawn Tassone and his guests. The content here should not be taken as medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Because each person is so unique, please consult your health care professional for any medical questions.