How fast does growth hormone work

Growth hormone levels naturally reduce from middle age onwards. Most commonly, doctors prescribe synthetic growth hormone to help children who have impaired hormone levels to reach their full height. However, there is a black-market trade in synthetic growth hormone, particularly among athletes, bodybuilders and those whose positive body image depends on looking muscular.

These people may take growth hormone in combination with other muscle-building substances in the mistaken belief that it will boost their muscle strength. However, any improvement in muscle strength is actually due to other muscle-building substances, such as steroids.

Our bones need enough growth hormone during our childhood and adolescence in order to lengthen to adult proportions. Growth hormone prompts our liver to make a substance called insulin-like growth factor IGF This and other similar compounds are involved in bone growth. Some children lack sufficient natural growth hormone to grow to their full height. Taking synthesised growth hormone can help them reach their full height.

However, research suggests that a child with normal levels of growth hormone, who takes the synthesised version, will not grow any taller than they would have naturally, unless they take very large amounts. Children who are experiencing stunted or slowed growth should have their natural growth hormone levels checked by medical professionals before they are prescribed any medication for their condition.

Adults with growth hormone deficiency which may result from problems with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus may have symptoms including:. Approximately one third of people who use synthetic growth hormone will experience side effects.

These may include:. Acromegaly is a disorder caused by excess levels of growth hormone, most commonly as a result of a tumour in that person's pituitary gland. It causes an irreversible overgrowth of bones, particularly those of the face, hands and feet.

The person's skin is also affected and becomes thick, coarse and hairy. Other side effects include high blood pressure and heart disease. If he got any benefit from his quest, it was due to the exercise involved in the search. Few men today believe in miraculous waters, but many, it seems, believe in the syringe of youth. Instead of drinking rejuvenating waters, they inject human growth hormone to slow the tick of the clock. Some are motivated by the claims of the "anti-aging" movement, others by the examples of young athletes seeking a competitive edge.

Like Ponce de Len, the athletes still get the benefit of exercise, while older men may use growth hormone shots as a substitute for working out. But will growth hormone boost performance or slow aging? And is it safe? To continue reading this article, you must log in.

Already a member? Login ». As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Other causes include :. Problems in the pituitary with producing growth hormone are commonly due to a pituitary tumor. The pituitary can be damaged by the tumor itself or by treatment such as surgery and radiotherapy. In adults, a lack of HGH can cause a number of different problems including :. These include :. The most common treatment in both adults and children is growth hormone therapy using lab-developed HGH injections.

Doses occur several times per week or on a daily basis depending on how severe the deficiency is. Manufacturers designed the growth hormone to mimic the behavior of natural growth hormone in the body. It will be prescribed by a doctor. HGH treatments can be self-administered or given by a doctor. Treatments are often given for several years.

Patients will see their doctor every month or so to check their condition. Blood tests will be carried out to see if extra growth hormone is needed and if treatments should be increased, decreased, or stopped. Cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and bone density will also be checked to see if they are healthy. Growth hormone deficiency can also lead to high cholesterol and brittle bones if it is not treated. The earlier the lack of growth hormone is treated in children, the better chance they have to grow to a near normal adult height.

Children can gain as many as 4 inches or more over the first 3 years of treatment. Another 3 inches or more can grow during the next 2 years. Anyone taking HGH will undergo regular monitoring to assess the safety and effectiveness of the hormone. The goal of growth hormone treatments in adults and children is to restore energy, metabolism, and enhance body development or shape. It can help to reduce total body fat, especially around the belly. HGH injections can also help to improve strength and exercise tolerance and reduce the risk of heart disease in those who lack growth hormone.

Many people experience an increase in overall quality of life. Most people tolerate HGH injection treatments well with few problems.

Those who experience these symptoms or other problems should talk to their doctor. They can change the dose if necessary to help remedy the symptoms. Food and Drug Administration FDA approved HGH injections to treat multiple medical conditions children can develop when they do not have the accurate levels of growth hormone.

We need growth hormones throughout our lives for our cells to correctly function. Think of your body like a car; HGH is similar to oil for a car. In the same manner that your engine cannot perform its many tasks without oil, insufficient levels of growth hormones can cause you not to properly function. These products are often misleading since the government does not regulate them for HGH and can possibly contain no HGH as an ingredient. Some of these products contain dangerous chemicals or substances that a manufacturer is substituting as HGH.

You may injure yourself by using products with unknown substances in their formulas. Some supplements claim to help your body make more HGH on its own, but there is no scientific research that supports those statements.

We recommend getting your HGH injectable through a trusted source—from a prescription via a physician. For a free consultation, call Results are subject to differ based on each client, and the time it takes the growth hormone to work can vary. It is one thing for us to tell you how HGH injections can improve your life. It is more compelling to see people talk about how much better they feel after growth hormone injections. You can watch videoclips of our clients telling the world about their results.