How Long Does it Take for Testosterone Pellets to Work?

brandon llewellyn | 27 August, 2024


          
            inserting a testosterone pellet

Testosterone pellets offer a convenient form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that men of all ages can use to restore their energy levels and libido. However, these pellets do not start working instantly. If you're a patient, learning how long it takes for testosterone pellets to work is the first step to take when considering this kind of treatment. Medical professionals offering this kind of treatment need to clearly communicate what to expect to each patient who has these pellets placed with a trocar system. Both patients and professionals can always benefit from brushing up on the timeframe for hormone effects to kick in.

As with many medical procedures and most hormone treatments, there's no one fixed time period to expect results from testosterone pellets. You'll need to counsel your patients on the factors that affect the onset of the effects and when to double-check that the pellet is still in place. By setting them up to expect certain effects as indicators that the hormones are working, you'll empower your patients to take charge of the process without having to check in with you every week.

 

When Can You Expect to See Results From Testosterone Pellets?

In general, patients can expect to feel the first results from testosterone pellet placement within two to six weeks after theinsertion procedure. Some patients may notice effects within the end of the first week or the start of the second, while some may need to wait nearly two months before anything occurs. Patients who reach the eight-week point without any indicators that the pellets are working need to schedule a follow-up to check the placement and verify there wasn't a rejection issue.

 

Early Effects vs. Long-Term Benefits

The first effects to become noticeable tend to stay quite superficial. Acne or greasy skin isn't usually adesired side effect, but it's a harmless indication that testosterone is entering the system from the pellets. Body hair growth can also increase. Libido effects tend to be positive if not a little distracting, although they will stabilize and become manageable within a few weeks after placement. Fluid retention and swelling can indicate a need to adjust the dosage. After these early effects fade out around the four to eight-week mark, patients will experience more long-term results like improved energy levels, reversal of muscle loss, relief from fatigue and depression, and fewer mood swings. Bone density improvements and lastingweight loss tend to take the longest to occur but will happen over time in most cases. They'll reach the optimal levels in their bodies between six weeks to six months depending on the dosage and placement.

 

Factors That Influence the Timing of Results

Metabolism

The metabolism controls more than just hunger levels and weight gain. It also determines how quickly the patient's body absorbs the hormones from the pellet inserted in the upper buttock area. There's little that you can do to affect your metabolism's rate of absorption aside from sticking to a healthier lifestyle. There's no convenient test to predict how the metabolism will affect the uptake of testosterone, so it's important to rely on noticeable physical effects and hormone blood tests to verify the pellets are working.

Pellet Dosage

Each testosterone pellet treatment plan is customized to the patient. Starting with a hormone imbalance panel helps the doctor decide exactly how much testosterone to add to the system of each patient. Some patients may need a single bioidentical hormone pellet to get the effects they need, while others may need two, three, or more for the same results. Body weight and health conditions can affect the pellet dosage, but more goes into the decision. Higher pellet dosages tend to trigger earlier effects but may also trigger more intensive cases of acne than lower dosages.

Health and Lifestyle

Ahealthy lifestyle with a well-rounded diet and daily exercise routine will increase the patient's uptake of the hormones from the pellets. There's no need to go to any extremes just to get good results. 45 minutes of exercise at least 5 times a week and a diet rich in vegetables and lean protein will help them get the best effects from this form of HRT.

Placement Accuracy

This is the one factor where the doctor's experience level plays a role in how quickly the testosterone effects kick in. Experienced medical professionals can get the placement just right so the pellet dissolves at a steady rate, releasing the right amount of testosterone without giving the patient hormone levels that could trigger acne or body hair growth.Hormone pellets that are placed too deep can take longer to start dissolving, while shallow placement tends to lead to rejection and failure.

 

When Patients Should Get in Touch With Their Doctor

It's tempting for patients to want to see you as soon as two weeks pass without the desired effects. However, advise them to keep waiting to see how they if they're seeing early signs by that point of rising testosterone levels. Some patients will need to wait a few months for mood and energy level effects, not to mention even longer for bone and muscle improvements. Encourage your patients to check in with you at the one-month mark no matter what for a routine follow-up. Tell patients experiencing negative side effects like severe acne, limb swelling, or hair loss to contact you immediately for an assessment.

Scheduling Regular Follow-Ups

Even if your patients are reporting positive signs of HRT success, you need to check up on the placement at four weeks along with the hormone blood levels of the patient. Make it clear to all patients that they need to attend these follow-ups. Most patients neednew pellets every three to four months to maintain the desired blood hormone level. Getting each patient on a routine schedule of check-ups and fresh placements will ensure that none of them go months without realizing that there's been a placement or rejection issue.

 

Trocar Supplies Doctors Trust for Testosterone Pellet Therapy

Aside from determining how long it takes for testosterone pellets to work so you can advise your patients, you'll also need high-quality trocar supplies to ensure accurate placement. Getting the pellet exactly where you want to place it ensures a timely start to the dissolution process, getting their testosterone levels rebounding without a long wait. The same trocar supplies are also needed for placingestrogen pellets for women in need of HRT.

If you have patients asking "How long does it take for testosterone pellets to work?" you should now feel better prepared to answer those questions. Get the trocar supplies you can trust to make this process as easy as possible with our disposable kits manufactured to the highest standards. Shop our selection of trocar kits today orcontact us for recommendations.