Low growth hormone - Rejuvenate Medical

What is low growth hormone?

Growth hormone, also known as somatotropin, is a key hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and cell regeneration. It is produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. Low growth hormone, known medically as growth hormone deficiency (GHD), is when the body does not produce enough growth hormone. This can happen for a variety of reasons:

• Congenital GHD - this is when a person is born with the condition due to genetic defects or damage to the pituitary gland. This is very rare, affecting about 1 in 4,000 births.
• Acquired GHD - this happens later in life and can be caused by damage to the pituitary from a tumor, radiation, injury, or infection. It is more common as people age.

What are the symptoms of growth hormone deficiency?

Some key symptoms of low growth hormone include:

• In children, growth failure and short stature compared to peers
• Increased body fat, especially abdominal obesity
• Decreased muscle mass and strength
• Low energy levels and fatigue
• Poor skin elasticity, dry skin, and thin hair
• Impaired heart function
• Weakened bones, increasing risk of fractures
• Impaired memory, cognition, and focus

How is low growth hormone diagnosed?

If growth hormone deficiency is suspected based on symptoms, a doctor will run blood tests to measure IGF-1 levels. IGF-1, or insulin-like growth factor 1, is stimulated by growth hormone. Low IGF-1 indicates deficient growth hormone. Doctors may also perform imaging scans of the pituitary gland. They can directly assess growth hormone by testing GH levels before and after stimulatory agents.

How is low growth hormone treated?

The primary treatment is growth hormone replacement therapy. Synthetic growth hormone is injected subcutaneously, usually daily. This can help restore normal growth in children and reverse body changes in adults. It may improve heart function, bone density, energy levels, and more.

At Rejuvenate Medical, our specialists have extensive experience diagnosing and treating growth hormone deficiency in both children and adults. We provide cutting edge growth hormone therapy tailored to your unique needs, with careful medical oversight for optimal results and safety.