Before you undergo any treatment it’s important to have the right expectations. Besides, you should compare the information you have so far to the latest scientific evidence.
Keep in mind that GH treatment is not meant for those seeking improvements in their physique or performance. Studies do not support their safety or effectiveness in such scenarios.
Instead, HGH therapy is indicated in specific medical conditions such as adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD), short bowel syndrome, and others.
HGH therapy is currently the only effective option for GHD management
The benefits of the treatment are well documented in the scientific literature and include improvements in all symptoms of GHD.
Take into account that these are the science-backed effects that you could expect. The exact HGH therapy results may vary for different individuals.
Our patients report improvements in body composition, energy levels, libido, mood, and lipid profile (cholesterol).
How long does HGH therapy take to work?
Regardless of its cause, GH deficiency in adults can be successfully managed by growth hormone therapy.
The deficiency may persist since childhood or be newly acquired in adulthood. Either way, official guidelines report that the treatment can address all GHD symptoms in adults. There are numerous benefits for the patients, including:
- Reduction in abdominal body fat
- Increase in lean mass
- Improved energy levels, mood, and quality of life
- Reduction in sleep problems
- Better skin and hair growth
- Lower LDL and higher HDL cholesterol
- Higher bone mineral density
On average it takes 4-8 weeks to notice the first benefits
The effects of growth hormone therapy can be accelerated by increasing the dosage, but the risk of adverse reactions will rise significantly as well.
The effectiveness of HGH therapy will depend on your age. Trials reveal that younger adults might require higher doses to achieve the treatment goals for their condition, compared to older adults.
The potency of the therapy also varies between men and women. The female hormone – estrogen is an antagonist of growth hormone and higher doses might be required to have equal effectiveness. Besides, some of the benefits such as the increase in bone mineral density occur faster in men compared to women.
The most significant changes in your body that you will observe from HGH therapy will be around your abdomen. Growth hormone activates lipolysis specifically in the metabolically active adipocytes around your belly and internal organs. This leads to recomposition in your body fat distribution and a reduction in abdominal obesity.
Timeline of HGH therapy results
Scientific studies have established a relative timeline of the results which occur during HGH therapy. However, each individual is different and there can be large variations in how quickly you will receive the different benefits of your therapy.
Thus, it is important to be patient and remember that the goal of HGH therapy is to mimic the natural growth hormone production in healthy individuals. Once the treatment achieves normal HGH and IGF-1 levels, the benefits will start to appear over time.
Make sure to document any changes in your symptoms every week of your therapy in order to get a better depiction of your results.
Here are the benefits you can expect each month of your therapy according to science:
Month 1
There might be no noticeable results of HGH therapy during the first 4 weeks. That is the necessary period for IGF-1 levels to increase.
IGF-1 is produced by the liver under the stimulus of growth hormone and mediates HGH’s anabolic effects. The IGF-1 has anabolic effects on tissue regeneration as well as muscles, bones, skin, hair, etc.
Month 2
The first noticeable changes caused by HGH therapy occur after the first month. They include a reduction in abdominal body fat and an increase in lean body mass.
These effects continue improving throughout the first few months of therapy. Unlike its anabolic effects, HGH directly stimulates lipolysis in abdominal adipose tissues. Thus, HGH therapy leads to significant weight loss.
Furthermore, patients may experience enhancements in physical performance during the second month which continue improving through the first 6 months of therapy.
Month 3
HGH therapy can also alleviate the typical sleep disturbances in GHD patients. Clinical trials report that the first benefits occur during the third and fourth months.
They include improved sleep quality and sleep latency as well as a tendency for mood improvement.
Month 4
Improvements in mood continue after the third month of HGH therapy. Studies lasting up to 4 months also report significant improvements in symptoms of atypical depression in GHD patients.
Atypical depression is common amongst patients who have their GHD onset in adulthood
Month 5
Towards the fifth and sixth months of therapy, most patients experience the maximum effect on body composition, including belly fat loss and increased lean mass.
The reduction in adipose storage around the abdomen includes lowering visceral fat (fat around the internal organs). Its excessive accumulation is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
The reduction has a positive effect on the blood lipid profile such as increasing the levels of the good (HDL) cholesterol while decreasing the levels of the total and bad (LDL) cholesterol.
Month 6
After six months of HGH therapy, patients can begin to experience the first improvements in bone mass. According to scientific evidence, they include increased bone mineral density and improved markers of bone turnover.
Furthermore, other trials report a significant improvement in the quality of life for GHD patients. HGH therapy can also ameliorate sexual problems and boost libido.
Effects to be expected in the long-term
Many of the effects of HGH therapy such as better quality of life and increased bone mineral density continue to improve after the first six months.
For example, it takes years of HGH therapy until patients experience the maximum increase in bone mineral density. The improvement in bone mass may persist even after discontinuation of therapy.
However, the therapy does not treat the cause of GHD. Thus, if you quit HGH injections your symptoms will likely return.
What about side effects?
HGH therapy is not free of side effects. They usually occur at the start of the therapy especially if the initial dose is too high.
The most common adverse reaction of HGH treatment is transitory fluid retention. It can lead to edemas, headache, and joint pains or worsen already existing conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Another possible side-effect is reduced insulin sensitivity. HGH is an antagonist to the effects of insulin, and HGH therapy can lead to transitory insulin resistance.
According to trials in GHD patients, most parameters of insulin sensitivity return to baseline after the first 3 months of therapy except for modest hyperinsulinemia.
In order to minimize the risk for any negative reactions, you should visit an experienced endocrinologist. Your doctor should monitor your therapy and correct your dosage if needed.
Most of these negative effects can be avoided by optimizing the dose of HGH
Are other forms of HGH just as effective?
The only effective form of HGH treatment is injections. That’s because growth hormone cannot be absorbed effectively through the human skin or the gastrointestinal system.
Other forms of HGH treatment such as gels or pills are deceiving GHD patients that they offer effective therapy without the need for injections or needles.
In reality, growth hormone has neglectable transdermal absorption and oral forms of HGH would be quickly destroyed by our digestion, making it ineffective. Thus, the only result you might get from such therapies is the placebo effect.
Alternatives to HGH therapy, such as supplements or secretagogues are also not effective in patients with GHD. If you have the condition, it means that your pituitary gland can no longer produce adequate amounts of HGH, and stimulating a damaged gland is not likely to be productive.
Get a free consultation with our medical expert for any questions about hormone replacement therapy