Human growth hormone (HGH), also called somatotropin, is a hormone that is naturally produced in the body. This vital hormone is created by the pituitary gland and works in various body parts to promote healthy physical growth. Human growth hormone is the hormone that makes children grow taller. However, even when a person’s bones have fused, and they have reached their maximum height, human growth hormones are still necessary for other bodily functions. Somatotropin also helps the body maintain ideal glucose levels. When glucose is too low or too high, symptoms like dizziness, fainting, sweating, hunger, and anxiety may occur.
HGH is necessary for the body to function properly, so a deficiency in this hormone should be treated as soon as possible. There are several symptoms of HGH deficiency. Recognizing the symptoms of deficiency and understanding how this hormone works empowers you to take better care of your health now and in the future.
How Is Somatotropin Produced?
Your hormones are the chemicals that dictate various functions in our bodies by sending messages to your tissues, muscles, and organs. These hormonal messages are carried in your bloodstream and instruct your body on what to do and when to do certain functions. Human growth hormone is just one of the hormones the body produces. In all, the body creates more than 50 hormones.
The pituitary gland manufactures several human hormones that affect overall body growth, bone density, and muscle mass. This gland contains an anterior and posterior lobe. The anterior or front lobe is where somatotropin is produced. Other hormones, such as luteinizing hormone and follicular stimulating hormone, are also manufactured in the pituitary gland. These hormones are responsible for men’s testosterone production and women’s ovulation. Prolactin is manufactured in the pituitary gland as well. This hormone is responsible for breast milk production in women and can affect sexual well-being and fertility in men and women. These important hormones work alongside somatotropin to help the body achieve hormonal balance and reproductive health.
Your pituitary gland must function properly for your metabolism as well. Your body needs the right amount of human growth hormone to prompt your body to turn the food you consume into energy. This is why changes in your body weight can indicate that your pituitary gland is not producing enough human growth hormone.
Symptoms of HGH Deficiency
When the body is not producing enough human growth hormone, or it is not being properly processed in the body, you may experience several symptoms, including:
- decreased muscular strength
- fatigue/lethargy
- decreased bone density
- excess body fat
- depression or significant mood changes
- reduced ability to exercise
- low or no libido
Somatotropin Deficiency in Children and Adults
When somatotropin levels in the pituitary gland are below the healthy range, this is classified as HGH deficiency. This condition occurs if the pituitary gland is damaged or malfunctioning. Both children and adults can have human growth hormone deficiency, but the symptoms vary for each group.
Human growth hormone deficiency can raise the risk of heart disease in adults. Rapid body fat accumulation and loss of muscle mass are also common symptoms. In some cases, the deficiency is caused by a non-cancerous tumor that has formed on the pituitary gland,, which prevents the gland from producing hormones efficiently.
In children, somatotropin deficiency symptoms can include failure to thrive. Children may look younger than they are and experience puberty later than they should. Some children also experience experiences that last until or past their toddler years. When children have human growth hormone deficiency, the condition may have been present at birth. The cause could be genetic or unknown.
Testing and Diagnosing HGH Deficiency
Doctors sometimes use recombinant human growth hormone, a synthetic form of the hormone, to treat somatotropin deficiency. This treatment should only be taken by prescription and with medical supervision. Before issuing an official diagnosis, healthcare professionals will run one or several tests, such as:
- a lipid and blood sugar panel
- tests for suppression of human growth hormone
- tests for somatotropin stimulation
- tests that assess a patient’s insulin-like growth factor-1
- tests that measure the function of the thyroid gland
Why You Need a Prescription for HGH Deficiency
Your doctor can create a personalized treatment plan by administering the amount of human growth hormones your body needs. Your dosage is based on your medical history and the symptoms that indicate your deficiency. To prevent further health issues, avoid using unregulated or illegal HGH products. Following a healthy, high-protein diet, getting adequate rest, and practicing techniques can boost somatotropin levels during and after hormone deficiency treatment.
If you’re experiencing that may point to human growth hormone deficiency, speak with an HGH doctor near me about your treatment options to combine low levels of the hormone and restore your overall well-being.