HRT Pellets for Women in Lubbock: The Evexipel Method at The Spa by Sheena
You're not sleeping well. You're gaining weight you can't explain. Your libido is gone. Your energy has flattened. Your mood is unrecognizable to you. And somewhere along the way, someone told you this was just what your 40s or 50s look like — that your job now is to accept it.
It isn't.
The Spa by Sheena offers hormone replacement therapy with bioidentical hormone pellets for women experiencing perimenopause, menopause, or hormone-related symptoms. Here's how the therapy works, what to honestly expect, and what an evidence-informed program looks like under real medical oversight.
What Hormone Pellet Therapy Is
Hormone pellets are small, rice-grain-sized cylinders containing bioidentical hormones — most commonly estradiol and testosterone for women — inserted under the skin in a quick, in-office procedure. Once in place, they release a steady, low dose of hormone over several months as the body absorbs them.
The appeal of the pellet delivery method is consistency. Unlike daily creams or patches (which depend on application discipline and can deliver inconsistent levels) or injections (which spike and trough), pellets provide a steadier, more physiologic hormone level over time. For many women, that consistency translates to fewer symptom fluctuations.
Pellet hormones are described as bioidentical because their molecular structure matches the hormones your body naturally produces. That distinction matters to some patients and providers, though it's worth being honest: bioidentical does not automatically mean "safer" than FDA-approved hormone therapies, and the medical literature on compounded BHRT is still evolving. We discuss this transparently at consultation.
The Evexipel Method at The Spa by Sheena
The Spa uses the Evexipel hormone pellet system, a clinically structured protocol developed for consistent dosing and patient monitoring. Evexipel-trained providers follow a standardized approach to labs, dosing calculation, insertion technique, and re-pellet timing.
What that structure actually looks like at The Spa:
Medical oversight — our Medical Director, Dr. Arledge, MD, supervises the program clinically.
Prescribing — our Nurse Practitioner evaluates each patient, orders and reviews labs, and writes the pellet prescription.
Insertion — pellets are inserted by our Nurse Practitioner or by our Registered Nurse under medical oversight, both trained in the Evexipel insertion technique.
Compounding — pellets are compounded by a licensed compounding pharmacy in the Evexipel network for each individual patient based on their labs and clinical evaluation.
This is a real medical program with licensed providers, structured documentation, and ongoing follow-up — not a one-and-done office visit with no continuity.
What an Initial Program Looks Like
1. Consultation and symptom evaluation
Your Nurse Practitioner reviews your full medical history, current medications, symptoms, prior hormone testing (if any), and goals. Pellet therapy isn't right for everyone, and the consultation is where that determination is made honestly.
2. Comprehensive lab work
We order a full hormone and metabolic panel — typically including estradiol, total and free testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), thyroid panel, vitamin D, lipids, complete blood count, and additional markers based on your history. Labs are drawn at a local lab convenient to you.
3. Lab review and dosing calculation
Results are reviewed by your Nurse Practitioner. Pellet dose is calculated based on lab values, symptom profile, body composition, and clinical guidelines — not on a one-size-fits-all default. If your labs reveal something that should be addressed before hormone therapy (thyroid issues, anemia, vitamin deficiencies, undiagnosed conditions), we address that first or refer appropriately.
4. Pellet insertion
The insertion is a short in-office procedure, typically 15–20 minutes. The insertion site (usually the upper outer hip) is numbed with local anesthetic. A small incision is made, the pellets are placed in the fatty layer just below the skin, and the site is closed with steri-strips. Most patients return to normal activity the next day with minor aftercare restrictions (no submerging the site, no heavy lifting for several days).
5. Follow-up labs and re-pelleting
Follow-up labs are typically drawn several weeks after the first insertion to confirm appropriate hormone levels and adjust dosing if needed. After the initial cycle, most women return for a re-pellet roughly every 3–5 months, depending on individual metabolism and symptom return.
What Patients Pursue HRT For
Women typically pursue hormone pellet therapy for some combination of:
Fatigue and low energy that doesn't respond to sleep
Sleep disruption (difficulty falling asleep, frequent waking)
Hot flashes and night sweats
Low libido or sexual dysfunction
Mood changes — anxiety, low mood, irritability not explained by life circumstances
Cognitive symptoms — brain fog, word-finding difficulty
Unexplained weight gain, particularly central adiposity
Loss of muscle tone and strength
Joint aches and stiffness
The honest truth: hormone therapy can meaningfully help many of these symptoms for many women — but not all women, and not all symptoms. Lifestyle factors (sleep, strength training, protein intake, stress, alcohol) remain foundational. Hormone therapy works best alongside those, not as a substitute for them.
Honest Risks and Considerations
Hormone therapy has both benefits and risks, and a real medical program presents both:
Common side effects — acne or oily skin, hair pattern changes (sometimes increased facial hair, sometimes scalp hair changes), mild fluid retention, mood changes, breast tenderness. Most are dose-related and manageable with adjustment.
Less common but more significant — increased red blood cell count, elevated lipids, sleep apnea worsening. Monitored through follow-up labs.
FDA status — compounded bioidentical hormones are not FDA-approved. The FDA has issued statements about marketing claims that imply compounded BHRT is safer or more effective than FDA-approved hormone therapies. We do not make those claims.
Pellet-specific limitation — once a pellet is inserted, the dose can't be quickly reversed if you don't tolerate it. Pellets dissolve over months. This makes conservative initial dosing and careful patient selection particularly important.
Hormone therapy is not for every woman. Patients with active or recent breast cancer, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, active liver disease, history of blood clots, or certain other conditions are generally not candidates. Full medical screening is required before treatment.
Common Questions About HRT Pellets in Lubbock
How long do the pellets last?
For women, pellets typically last 3–5 months. Individual metabolism, body composition, and activity level all influence the duration. We track your symptoms and re-pellet timing across cycles to refine your personal schedule.
Will I feel better immediately?
Some women feel noticeable changes within 2–3 weeks. For others, the response is more gradual over 6–8 weeks as hormone levels stabilize. The first cycle is also where we learn how your body responds and refine dosing for cycle two.
What about pellets vs creams, patches, or oral hormones?
Each delivery method has trade-offs. Creams and patches are easily adjustable but depend on application consistency. Oral estrogen passes through the liver, which has implications. Injections cause spikes and troughs. Pellets offer consistency and convenience but with the limitation that the dose can't be adjusted mid-cycle. We discuss which method fits your situation best — pellets are not always the right answer, even within an HRT-focused practice.
Will hormone therapy cause cancer?
This is a question that deserves an honest answer. Hormone therapy has been associated with certain cancer risks in some studies, particularly with specific medications, doses, durations, and patient populations. Other studies have shown protective effects against other conditions. The decision to pursue hormone therapy is individualized based on your risk profile, family history, and goals — not a blanket yes or no. We discuss this in depth at consultation and refer for additional medical input when appropriate.
Is pellet insertion painful?
The insertion site is numbed with local anesthetic before the procedure. Most patients describe pressure rather than pain. Mild bruising or soreness at the insertion site for several days afterward is normal.
Can my insurance cover pellet therapy?
Compounded hormone pellet therapy is typically not covered by insurance. We're transparent about program costs at consultation, including the cost of labs, pellet insertion, and re-pellet visits.
Can I do pellet therapy if I'm still having periods?
Many perimenopausal women are good candidates for hormone therapy — perimenopause is often when symptoms are most pronounced. Treatment plans differ for perimenopausal versus postmenopausal patients. Your Nurse Practitioner determines the right approach for your specific stage.
What if I don't want testosterone?
Testosterone is often part of women's hormone pellet protocols because of its role in energy, libido, mood, and muscle preservation. However, treatment is individualized. If you have specific concerns or contraindications, we discuss alternatives.
Who's a Good Candidate?
Strong candidates for hormone pellet therapy at The Spa are typically:
Women experiencing symptoms consistent with hormone changes (perimenopause, menopause, or hormone-related issues)
Willing to commit to the medical model: comprehensive labs, structured follow-up, ongoing re-pellet cycles
Comfortable with the compounded-vs-FDA-approved distinction and have made an informed choice
Without active contraindications (active hormone-sensitive cancer, undiagnosed bleeding, certain clotting disorders, active liver disease)
Realistic about what hormone therapy can and can't do — and willing to address sleep, nutrition, strength training, and stress alongside treatment
Hormone therapy is not a shortcut around the foundations of health. The patients who get the best results are the ones who treat it as one part of a broader optimization, not a replacement for the work.
Why Lubbock Chooses The Spa by Sheena for HRT
Hormone pellet therapy has produced a wave of clinics offering quick consultations, minimal labs, and pellet-as-a-product transactions. The Spa by Sheena does it differently. We use a structured protocol, run thorough labs, review them with a licensed Nurse Practitioner, supervise the program clinically through our Medical Director, and follow up over time to refine your personal protocol.
This is care, not a transaction.
Our VIP Membership applies to HRT and our full service menu — $150/month fully credited toward any treatment, with 10% preferred pricing on every service.
Ready to Talk About How You Actually Feel?
If the symptoms above sound familiar and you're tired of being told they're "just normal," the consultation is where we run real labs, look at the data, and figure out whether hormone therapy is part of the answer for you. If it isn't, we'll tell you. If it is, we'll build a real plan.
Book your consultation or call (806) 701-5840.
The Spa by Sheena
8713 Milwaukee Ave, Ste 200
Lubbock, Texas 79424
By Sheena Klos,
Founder · CIDESCO Certified
Master Medical Esthetician
The Spa by Sheena is a medical day spa serving Lubbock and the South Plains region of West Texas. All neurotoxin treatments are administered under the supervision of our medical director by our licensed clinical team.
