520 Tamalpais Drive, Ste 204, Corte Madera, California 9492520 S Santa Cruz Ave, Unit 306, Los Gatos, California 95030
+1 (510) 588-5996New Patient Consultation
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BioTE Bioidentical Hormone Pellet Therapy in Marin and Los Gatos

Medically reviewed by Dr. Dan Solomon, MDLast reviewed

Performed byOur nurse practitioner

Offered at520 Tamalpais Drive, Ste 204, Corte Madera20 S Santa Cruz Ave, Unit 306, Los Gatos

Tired, foggy, not sleeping, not quite yourself? Hormones shift with age, for women and men. BioTE pellet therapy is a simple way to bring them back into balance, with one quick visit every few months.

Available at Afterglow Medical Aesthetics & Wellness in Corte Madera and Los Gatos.

What are BioTE hormone pellets?

BioTE pellets are tiny, rice-sized pellets of bioidentical estradiol or testosterone. Bioidentical means they’re structurally identical to the hormones your body makes. Your dose is customized based on your lab work, symptoms, and health history.

The pellets are placed just under the skin near the hip. They release a small, steady amount of hormone as your body needs it, avoiding the daily ups and downs of creams or pills.

Why patients choose pellets

  • Set it and forget it. No daily pills, patches, or creams.
  • Steady levels. Pellets release hormone gradually, without daily peaks and crashes.
  • Fewer visits. Most women return every 3 to 4 months. Most men return every 4 to 6 months.
  • Personalized. Every dose is based on your labs, not a one-size-fits-all plan.

Who it’s for

Women in perimenopause or menopause who are dealing with:

  • Hot flashes and night sweats
  • Poor sleep
  • Low libido
  • Mood swings or irritability
  • Brain fog
  • Weight changes

Men with symptoms of low testosterone, such as:

  • Low energy and fatigue
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Loss of muscle or strength
  • Weight gain
  • Low motivation or mood

How it works

  • 1. Lab work
    We start with a blood panel to check your hormone levels.
  • 2. Consultation
    Your provider reviews your labs and symptoms and builds your dosing plan.
  • 3. Pellet insertion
    A quick in-office procedure. The area is numbed, a small opening is made near the hip, and the pellets are placed. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
  • 4. Follow-up
    We recheck labs and adjust your dose as needed.
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have a question?

BioTE FAQ

Does pellet insertion hurt?
The area is numbed first, so most patients feel only light pressure.
How soon will I feel a difference?
Many patients notice changes within 2 to 4 weeks. Full benefits often take a few months.
How long do pellets last?
Usually 3 to 4 months for women and 4 to 6 months for men.
Is there downtime?
Very little. Avoid strenuous lower-body exercise, baths, and swimming for a few days after insertion.
Are there side effects?
Some patients have temporary tenderness or bruising at the insertion site. Your provider will review possible side effects and whether pellets are right for you.
Do I need labs first?
Yes. Bloodwork guides your dose and keeps your treatment safe.

SAFETY

Safety information

Read this before your treatment, and tell your provider about any condition or medicine it mentions.

Get medical help right away for sudden chest pain or shortness of breath, pain or swelling in a leg, sudden severe headache, changes in vision or speech, or weakness on one side. Contact us if the insertion site turns red, hot or swollen, starts to drain, or a pellet comes out.

Who should not have it

  • Men with breast cancer, or with known or suspected prostate cancer.
  • Women with current or past breast cancer or another estrogen-dependent cancer, or unexplained vaginal bleeding.
  • Current or past blood clots (DVT, pulmonary embolism), stroke or heart attack, or a known clotting disorder.
  • Pregnancy: testosterone can harm a developing baby.
  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure: the testosterone label says testosterone is not recommended.
  • Liver disease.

Common side effects

  • Tenderness, bruising or minor bleeding where the pellets were placed.
  • With testosterone: acne and oily skin, unwanted hair growth in women, and breast enlargement in men.
  • With estrogen: breast tenderness, spotting or breakthrough bleeding, headache and bloating.

Serious risks

  • Infection at the insertion site, or a pellet working its way out (extrusion). The testosterone pellet label reports most cases in the first month after insertion.
  • A pellet's dose cannot be stopped or lowered once it is placed. If a side effect means the hormone has to stop, the pellets have to be removed.
  • With testosterone: too many red blood cells (polycythemia), blood clots in the legs or lungs, and raised blood pressure, which is why blood tests are repeated.
  • With estrogen: endometrial cancer in women with a uterus who take it without a progestogen, and stroke, blood clots and, with estrogen plus progestin, breast cancer (FDA boxed warning).

FDA approval and off-label use

Testosterone pellets are FDA-approved for men whose low testosterone has a medical cause; the label says their safety and effectiveness for “age-related” low testosterone have not been established. Testosterone pellets for women are off-label, and the global consensus on testosterone for women does not recommend any preparation, including pellets, that raises testosterone above the normal female range. Estradiol pellets are compounded, and compounded “bioidentical” hormones are not reviewed or approved by the FDA for safety, quality or effectiveness (National Academies, 2020).

Sources

  1. TESTOPEL (testosterone pellets) prescribing information, Endo USA, revised 07/2025, FDA label via DailyMed
  2. Estradiol tablets prescribing information (indications), FDA label via DailyMed
  3. ESTRACE (estradiol) prescribing information: estrogen class boxed warning and contraindications, FDA label via DailyMed
  4. Davis SR et al. Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2019;104(10):4660–4666
  5. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Clinical Utility of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (2020)

Related treatments

Book your hormone consultation

Feel like yourself again. Book a hormone consultation at our Corte Madera or Los Gatos location, and our medical team will build a plan around your labs and your goals.

CALL (510) 588-5996

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