Video Q&A

The term “bioidentical hormones” refers to hormones that perfectly match the molecular structure of their natural counterparts in the human body. Bioidentical hormones are better tolerated due to their identical chemical composition, so there’s a very limited risk of rejection by the body or unwanted side effects. The research shows that therapy with bioidentical hormones consistently yields the most impressive results, which is why leading HRT providers around the country increasingly use these types of all-natural hormones in their practices.

The process of bioidentical hormone replacement is quite straightforward. First, the patient consults with an endocrinologist (aka a “hormone doctor”) who specializes in the delivery of anti-aging hormonal healthcare. These experts are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of hormone deficiencies. Following lab tests to confirm the presence of a deficiency, the doctor and patient will then chart the course of recovery together. Therapy, involving regular periodic injections of bioidentical growth hormone, may last from 6 weeks up to a year or more, depending on the patient’s goals and the severity of the deficiency.

Human growth hormone, or just HGH, is a natural hormone that is normally produced in the pituitary gland, a small pea-sized structure in the brain. When the hormone is found in healthy amounts, it supports healthy bone and muscle growth, fosters a high, fat-burning metabolism, and keeps the skin and hair looking youthful. In addition to being produced in the body, therapeutic HGH can also be synthesized in a lab. Patients whose bodies do not manufacture enough HGH on their own can boost their HGH levels with supplementation.

HGH levels may decline for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, the aging process is known to trigger falling HGH levels. The elderly, who require adequate amounts of HGH to prevent age-related muscle loss and osteoporosis, are at the greatest risk of developing an HGH deficiency. In addition, injury or illness can negatively impact HGH levels even in young, otherwise healthy people. Sometimes, there is no clear clinical reason for an HGH decline. That’s why everyone should monitor their HGH levels regularly.

HGH deficiency, caused by falling HGH levels, can trigger a number of detrimental physical, mental, and emotional effects in the people who experience them. Depending on the severity of the deficiency, low HGH can cause chronic fatigue, muscle loss (sarcopenia), weakening bones, low libido, worsening mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, and feelings of hopeless and despair. Often, doctors might confuse the symptoms of HGH deficiency with those of another health condition, so it’s important to know the signs so that you can explore all of the possibilities. Sometimes, there are no outward signs of HGH deficiency, but low levels may be contributing to other disease processes unknowingly. That’s why it’s important to continually monitor your HGH levels, especially later in life.

The signs and symptoms of growth hormone deficiency can vary from person to person. They may also be slightly different depending on gender and the severity of the deficiency. In general, though, the top signs of a growth hormone deficiency are poor energy levels, unwanted weight gain (especially around the belly), loss of muscle mass, dry, thin skin, and emerging or worsening mental health issues like anxiety or depression. It’s important to remember that the symptoms of GHD described here are often confused for another condition to the similarities of symptoms between various health conditions and HGH deficiency. Accordingly, the only way to accurately and definitively diagnose GHD is through blood testing.

Individuals who do not produce enough HGH are their own are diagnosed with a condition called growth hormone deficiency, or GHD. If you are one of the millions of people who develop an HGH deficiency each year, the good news is that you can employ proven strategies to reverse course and restore healthy HGH levels. The best-known strategies to counter falling HGH levels include getting plenty of high-intensity exercise such as weightlifting or high-intensity interval training, committing to 7-9 hours of sleep each night, and eating a diet rich in amino acids. If more severe cases of GHD, patients may require therapeutic supplementation with somatropin, a high-grade pharmaceutical formulation that can safely increase HGH levels.

Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is the well-established practice of carefully introducing exogenous hormones (meaning hormones “from outside the body”) to support healthy levels when the patient cannot produce enough on his or her own. HGH replacement therapy is increasingly effective and affordable thanks to advances in technology and greater interest among researchers in the healing potential of therapy. Individuals with growth hormone disorders who receive HGH replacement therapy experience improved appearance, greater energy levels, and improved biomarkers of health in lab tests.

Testing for GHD is critical to determine the presence of the hormone disorder and to assess the extent of the deficiency. Two tests are primarily used to test for HGH levels: the growth hormone stimulation test and the growth hormone suppression test. Each type of test uses a slightly different methodology to analyze HGH levels. Your doctor will help you determine which one is right for you. Occasionally, you may be directed to perform both tests as part of the diagnostic process

Due to the “growth” portion of HGH, many people understandably are confused about why adults require HGH. While it is true that HGH is critical for children’s healthy growth and development, the reality is that HGH is important throughout life – even well after normal growth has stopped. In adulthood, HGH helps to regulate metabolism, burn fat, boost energy, and balance the other hormones in the body so that homeostasis can be maintained.

Although HGH replacement therapy is the only solution in cases of severe deficiencies, mild cases may be resolved through lifestyle changes. The best, proven ways to naturally increase HGH include balancing the diet to include more fresh foods (with a particular focus on increasing amino acid intake), getting plenty of regular exercise such as weightlifting, sleeping 7-9 hours each night, and intermittent fasting, or IF. Intermittent fasting is particularly beneficial for immediately increasing HGH levels, sometimes by as much as three times. To practice intermittent fasting, simply restrict caloric intake to 8-hour windows each day, followed by 16 hours of no food consumption. The easiest way to practice this in your daily life is to simply skip breakfast and eat from 12-8 pm.