Human growth hormone (HGH) is an important hormone produced in the pituitary gland that plays a vital role in growth, cell reproduction and regeneration, bone strength, brain function, and much more. As we age, HGH levels naturally decline, leading to undesirable effects. HGH clinic refers to medical treatment involving injections of bioidentical human growth hormone to restore hormones to youthful levels.
HGH injections can provide incredible benefits related to energy, body composition, skin quality, sexual function, injury healing, mood, cognition, and overall vitality. However, hormone therapy is a complex medical treatment that requires careful evaluation, monitoring, and adjustment under doctor supervision. This article will provide extensive information about the purpose and processes of HGH therapy to help you understand if treatment could be right for you.
Human growth hormone (HGH), also known as somatotropin, is produced by the anterior pituitary gland at the base of the brain. Beginning in early childhood, HGH stimulates growth in height and is vital for healthy development. Levels peak during puberty and start declining from age 30 onwards. By age 60, HGH production may be 75% lower compared to youth.
As the "master hormone", HGH exerts effects on many tissues and biological processes:
With wide-ranging roles, maintaining healthy HGH levels throughout adulthood is essential for strength, health, and vital longevity.
Several factors contribute to the age-related decrease in HGH secretion:
In most aging individuals, growth hormone deficiency develops very gradually over decades. Problems begin to emerge when levels fall below a necessary threshold. Obtaining a clinical diagnosis involves blood tests confirming insufficient HGH accompanied by related symptoms.
Declining growth hormone during midlife and beyond causes wide-ranging signs and symptoms related to decreased cell regeneration, muscle loss, bone weakening, mood changes, metabolic shifts, and more.
HGH deficiency manifests differently in each person depending on lifestyle habits, genetic factors, diet, stress exposure, pre-existing conditions, use of certain medications, and stage of hormone decline. Symptoms tend to be vague at first before worsening.
Major signs and symptoms of growth hormone deficiency include:
This broad list illustrates why optimizing HGH status supports healthy aging physically and mentally. People don't have to accept "inevitable decline". HGH therapy can help reclaim your power.
Since low HGH contributes to undesirable symptoms, HGH therapy aims to resolve hormone deficiency. But optimizing fitness and function requires a personalized approach based on your unique health status.
Seeking treatment starts with a complete medical evaluation determining current growth hormone status and ruling out other possible causes of your symptoms.
In healthy individuals, normal IGF-1 levels range from around 160-480 ng/mL depending on age and sex hormones. Results below this reference range indicate possible HGH deficiency. But clinical diagnosis depends on both blood tests combined with characteristic symptoms of hormone decline.
The following indicators suggest you may benefit from growth hormone therapy:
With the variety of influencers on HGH status and health in general, treatment decisions require an integrated evaluation by a hormone therapy specialist.
The primary aims of growth hormone therapy include:
The degree to which treatment goals are met depends on your consistency with the regimen along with key lifestyle choices regarding nutrition, movement, stress management, supplements and more.
If declining growth hormone is negatively impacting quality of life, HGH therapy under medical supervision may help get you back on track. But this hormonal treatment is not like taking a simple pill. Careful oversight is required given the potency of exogenous HGH administration.
Let's overview the step-by-step sequence for starting growth hormone therapy.
With the complexities involved and the commonality of subtle hormone shifts as we age, working with an experienced hormone therapy practitioner is strongly advised over general family medicine providers.
Seeking care from an anti-aging, regenerative, or age-management medicine clinic like Harmonize Wellness Clinic can prove extremely beneficial for HGH treatment. Look for HGH doctors specializing in:
Optimally, your doctor will spend ample time explaining HGH treatment nuances and delicately adjusting dosages based on follow-up testing and monitoring. You want very personalized care.
A quality hormone clinic will begin by gathering extensive bloodwork exploring your:
Testing may require multiple blood draws to ascertain key details. Proper diagnosis rests on thorough lab analysis paired with your reported symptoms.
Assessing hormone levels before treatment establishes an objective baseline to compare progress. Follow-up bloodwork also helps fine-tune dosages.
| Lab Test | Normal Range |
|---|---|
| Serum IGF-1 | 84-255 ng/mL (ages 31-40) 92-284 ng/mL (ages 41-50) 90-228 ng/mL (ages 51-60) |
| Growth Hormone | < 5 ng/mL (fasting) |
Target zones will vary by age, sex, menopause status, etc. An experienced HGH therapy doctor interprets results in context. Values outside expected ranges signal possible endocrine dysfunction.
After confirming HGH deficiency and assessing overall health, your doctor can prescribe appropriate bioidentical hormones for treatment.
HGH injections remain the gold standard delivery method to reliably restore levels. Injections utilize recombinant DNA-derived human growth hormone matching natural somatotropin molecules produced in the body. This proven approach safely delivers hormones.
Available forms of bioidentical growth hormone include:
As experts in the field, Harmonize Wellness Clinic clinics offer cutting-edge HGH therapy, analyze hormonal balance, provide support getting started, teach self-injection techniques, etc.
Finding your optimal dosage is key for resolving deficiency symptoms without complications. Given how powerfully growth hormone acts on many tissues, HGH therapy requires very personalized prescription tailoring.
Most patients begin with conservative doses of approximately 1 IU daily - often split as smaller nightly injections. Levels are then assessed after 3-6 weeks via IGF-1 testing, consideration of progress achieving treatment goals, monitoring side effects, etc.
Adjustments between 0.5-1.0 IU at a time allow for gradual acclimatization, especially important for those highly sensitive to hormones. Patience helps determine your best dosage and schedule. Once stable, IGF-1 lab analysis should occur twice yearly, especially during periods of new medication use, changes in body composition, illness, or altered lifestyle habits.
Used appropriately under medical guidance, growth hormone therapy yields multiple desirable effects - improving energy, body composition, skin quality, sexual function, healing capacity, mood and cognition. Benefits emerge progressively thanks to HGH's role as a master coordinator hormone.
Here is a summary of common improvements noted:
* Increased muscle mass, strength and exercise capacity * Greater bone mineral density protecting against osteoporosis * Enhanced injury healing and tissue repair processes * Reduced joint pain and inflammation * Improved oxygen uptake and cardiovascular function * Better weight management with decreased belly fat * Younger-looking, tighter, brighter skin * Sharper vision, hearing and taste
* Improved memory, focus and quicker thinking ability * Elevated mood via boosted neurotransmitters like serotonin * Greater motivation and zest for life * Confidence from better body image and strength * Increased libido and improved sexual performance * Deeper, more restorative sleep * Heightened resilience and emotional stability
Of course, specific benefits arise differently for each person depending on your consistency implementing lifestyle upgrades like improved nutrition, more activity, lower stress, targeted supplementation etc. But most patients report significant enhancements in multiple domains of health.
Despite proven advantages treating hormone deficiency, controversy and myths still abound regarding growth hormone therapy. Let's separate fact from fiction.
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| HGH therapy is cheating | Bioidentical hormones simply restore natural levels to improve health, not boost someone beyond normal capacities. Therapy returns your body's ability to function optimally given your genetics and efforts. |
| HGH causes cancer or diabetes | No evidence suggests growth hormone therapy increases disease risk. On the contrary, data indicates HGH may help prevent these illnesses by supporting healthy cell function. |
| Growth hormone is only for bodybuilders seeking muscle | While athletes utilize HGH to improve performance, therapy more importantly treats hormone decline in all people suffering low energy, sexual dysfunction, emotional issues, cognitive problems etc. |
| HGH just addresses normal aging | Confusing hormonal deficiency with normal aging dismisses the value of optimizing health. We don't have to accept undesirable declines as inevitable. Quality living relies on balanced endocrine function. |
| Taking growth hormone is an easy fix | Responsible medical oversight is required given HGH's potency. Dosage tailoring, clinical monitoring, and lifestyle factors all influence individual response. Simple solutions usually fail. |
Rather than dismiss growth hormone due to stigma or fear, it's better to operate based on science and facts. HRT provides life-changing benefits when applied judiciously to restore balance.
Getting started with growth hormone therapy is just the first step. To actualize all the possible benefits, certain key lifestyle measures prove fundamental. Here are top suggestions:
Adjusting lifestyle, attitude and behaviors builds on growth hormone
