When you are balancing your hormones there are several treatment methods out there. There are pros and cons to each method. In a perfect world you would not need to replace your hormones. But you live in a world full of hormone disrupting chemicals and a stressful world (stress disrupts hormones). I look at using bioidentical hormones as the price I pay in order to live optimally in the current world.
Creams: this is probably the most well known method of hormone application. The upside is that there is no pain and it is easy to adjust dosing. The down side is that you must remember to apply the creams regularly, often more than once a day. Some people do not absorb creams well and there can be some up/down swings in your hormone levels. It is imperative that you use a high quality compounding pharmacy so that you get consistent results. Creams are a safe way to get estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Pills/capsules: only progesterone is safe to take orally. Oral hormones are easy to use and with a good compounding pharmacy they have a good consistency. You do have to remember to take them but typically the progesterone is taken only at night since it can help sleep.
Suppositories: typically not a desired method for hormone replacement due to the mess and inconvenience.
Pellets: uses for estrogen and testosterone. This is the most physiologic way to get these hormones, the effect comes the quickest and is the most effective. The downside is that you do need a minor in office procedure for the pellets. However, it is minor and most people do not mind. Pellet procedures are needed every 3 to 5 months for women and every 4 to 6 months for men.
It is important when considering bio-identical hormones that you discuss with your highly trained hormone specialist what is important to you. Pick the right treatment method for you and your body. This is customized to each person. No two people are alike. This is why physicians who are highly trained in hormone replacement do not bill insurances. Insurances do not recognize the amount of time and expertise that it takes to properly customize a bio-identical hormone regimen. The patients seeking bio-identical hormone replacement value their body and health over money. Feeling fabulous is worth a million dollars.