Human growth hormone (HGH) is a key hormone produced in the pituitary gland that plays an important role in growth and development, especially during childhood and adolescence. As we get older, HGH levels naturally decline, which can lead to changes in body composition, energy levels, bone health, and more.
HGH therapy involves supplementing low levels of growth hormone using bioidentical HGH injections. This therapy aims to restore HGH levels back to what is normal for a healthy young adult. When used appropriately under medical supervision, HGH therapy can have benefits. However, there are also risks involved if the therapy is misused or overused.
HGH therapy is only appropriate for certain medical conditions that are linked to a true growth hormone deficiency. The following groups may be candidates for HGH therapy:
Adults who have a deficiency of HGH due to damage to their pituitary gland or other causes may benefit. Blood tests are done to confirm low IGF-1 and growth hormone levels. Common symptoms of adult growth hormone deficiency include decreased muscle mass, bone density loss, increased body fat, fatigue, and high cholesterol.
For children who have slow or abnormal growth patterns and tests confirm a growth hormone deficiency, pediatric endocrinologists may recommend HGH therapy to help reach a normal height. Close monitoring of treatment is necessary to avoid adverse effects on growth plates.
Note that HGH therapy should only be used when blood tests and clinical evaluations show a true hormone deficiency linked to medical symptoms or growth problems. The use of HGH for anti-aging or athletic enhancement purposes has risks and is not medically appropriate.
HGH therapy involves daily injections of bioidentical human growth hormone to restore levels into an optimal range. Treatment protocols including dosing and timing of HGH injections will be tailored to the individual patient ́s lab results, medical history, and treatment goals.
It generally takes 3-6 months before patients notice significant benefits from growth hormone therapy. Body composition improvements due to increased protein synthesis tend to be first effects observed. Other effects that can develop over one to two years with continual treatment include improved bone density, better lipid profiles, normalized blood sugar, increased muscle strength, enhanced exercise performance, improved skin thickness and texture, and declines in body fat mass.
Patients on HGH therapy need to be consistently monitored by their doctor. Follow up lab work examining hormone levels and IGF-1 as well as tracking potential side effects are important check-ins while on treatment. Dose adjustments or therapy discontinuation may be necessary if adverse effects develop or treatment goals are exceeded.
Several factors are vital for achieving effective and safe outcomes with human growth hormone therapy:
- Multiple blood tests assessing IGF-1 and GH levels are used to accurately diagnose if a hormone deficiency exists before starting supplementation.
- Only qualified medical professionals have the specialized expertise needed to evaluate patients, prescribe appropriate HGH protocols, and monitor patients while on therapy.
- It is essential that bioidentical human growth hormone of the highest quality standards is used for injections to provide expected results and avoid contamination risks.
When these parameters for safe HGH use are followed, human growth hormone therapy can have very good success rates for patients with a bona fide need for GH due to deficiency. However, any inappropriate use or misuse of HGH injections could be dangerous to health.
Strict safety precautions for handling and administering hormone treatments must be followed by patients under medical supervision. Ongoing critical tracking of health status while on a growth hormone regimen enables adjustments as needed.
While often associated with performance enhancement and anti-aging claims, HGH therapy has also shown promise for treating Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by constant hunger and growth deficiency. In clinical trials, HGH injections helped increase height and improve body composition in children with the condition.
While HGH therapy is generally well tolerated when properly administered to patients in need, there are some potential side effects to note:
Careful tracking of insulin, thyroid, liver enzymes andinflammatory markers via periodic lab tests allows early detection of any adverse changes. If significant side effects emerge, the doctor may adjust down dosage or frequency of injections to improve tolerability. For more serious effects, stopping HGH treatment may be warranted.
Use of human growth hormone should be discontinued if infertility or pregnancy occurs as well. Any unexpected or concerning symptoms during growth hormone supplementation must be promptly reported to the prescribing doctor before continuing shots.
Certain healthy lifestyle measures can enhance the benefits of bioidentical HGH therapy. Leading an active lifestyle along with smart nutrition choices makes a vital difference in therapeutic outcomes:
Making sustainable improvements to daily health habits amplifies the effectiveness of bioidentical growth hormone treatment by reinforcing the body's natural repair, recovery, and rejuvenation processes for optimal wellbeing. A balanced lifestyle aligned with therapy facilitates improved treatment tolerance, safe use of HGH and lasting benefits.
If you have questions about growth hormone therapy, consult an endocrinologist or hormone specialist to have a thorough evaluation. Blood testing can help clarify if a bona fide growth hormone deficiency or suboptimal IGF-1 levels may be present that properly supervised HGH therapy could improve under strict safety monitoring.
