Low growth hormone levels can lead to several uncomfortable symptoms for women. As you age, you may notice that fat is increasing around your waist, you are losing muscle mass, your bones appear to be weaker, you have low energy levels, and you may be depressed. These symptoms may be related to a lower growth hormone level, but growth hormone therapy may increase your levels and reduce these symptoms.
What Is Human Growth Hormone?
Human growth hormone is a peptide hormone produced by the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is primarily responsible for releasing human growth hormone during childhood. Even after you stop growing, you still need human growth hormone, or HG,H because it is essential for maintaining your body’s structure and regulating your metabolism.
What Is the Pituitary Gland?
The pituitary gland can be found at the bottom of the hypothalamus. This gland is in the endocrine system, and its job is to produce many of the essential hormones that the body needs. It also has the responsibility to guide other glands in the system to release their hormones.
Glands are organs that produce substances, one of which is hormones. Hormones are chemicals that connect different functions by sending messages to the organs, various tissues, and muscles. These messages tell these other entities what they are supposed to do and when they are supposed to do it.
The pituitary gland produces the growth hormone that maintains an adult’s bones and muscles and is in charge of distributing fat.
How Does Growth Hormone Regulate the Metabolism?
Metabolism is the combination of chemical processes that convert food into energy. This process is highly important because every cell in the body needs energy to function properly.
Growth hormone contributes to the metabolic process by stimulating the production of insulin-like growth factor-1, or IGF-1. As you may have guessed, IGF-1 is a hormone similar to insulin, which manages the effects of growth hormone on the body. The pancreas produces insulin to reduce glucose, and IGF-1 reduces blood sugar levels.
Glucose, which comes from carbohydrates, is a source of energy for the body and also sends nutrients to its organs, nervous system, and muscles.
What Are Normal Levels of Growth Hormones for Women?
Normal growth hormone levels for women are 1 to 14 ng/dL or nanograms per milliliter.
When growth hormone levels are lower than normal, this is known as “growth hormone deficiency.”
Symptoms of HGH Deficiency in Adults
The following are symptoms of an HGH deficiency if you are a female adult:
- Weakness of the muscles, bones, or heart
- A higher-than-normal risk for heart disease
- An increase in body fat
- A reduced sense of well-being
- Anxiety and depression
- Reduced bone density
- Less lean body mass
- Fatigue
- Lower libido
What Is the Treatment?
Growth hormone replacement therapy (HGH replacement therapy) treats growth hormone deficiency. Women who undergo HGH replacement therapy may notice transformations in their appearance, energy levels, and overall health.
The Potential Benefits
Improved Skin Elasticity and Anti-Aging Benefits
More studies show that human growth hormones have anti-aging properties for human skin.
Increased Fat Loss and Lean Muscle Tone
In 1990, the New England Journal of Medicine reported a study in which subjects received HGH injections and increased their muscle mass by 8.8% and decreased their body fat by 14%. To see these results, the subjects have been diagnosed with hormone deficiency to see
Higher Energy Levels and Reduced Fatigue
After people have been found to have lower than normal levels of human growth hormone, they may receive hormone replacement therapy or HRT. After this occurs, they have a greater capacity to exercise, and they have more energy.
Better Sleep Quality
Many studies demonstrate that human growth hormone promotes better sleep, which is necessary for women with lower-than-normal hormone levels. Medical experts state that up to 75% of the growth hormone your body produces and releases into your bloodstream is released during deep sleep.
Stronger Bones and Joint Health
Adults with low levels of growth hormone tend to have poor bone density. This is a symptom that can lead to osteoporosis.
According to the research, growth hormone injections increased the range of motion of many study participants’ affected joints and reduced joint pain.
Improved Metabolism and Weight Management
Growth hormones regulate metabolism, and one interesting point that scientists have discovered is that obese men and women have lower levels of growth hormone than adults of normal weight. As was mentioned above, after HRT, overweight individuals gained muscle mass, and they also saw a reduction in body fat.
Enhanced Hair and Nail Growth
Some research demonstrates that when study subjects are on HRT, they experience improvements in the thickness and quality of their hair.
What to Expect Before and After Therapy
Before HGH Therapy
Before therapy, many women complain of fatigue, weight gain, thinning skin, joint pain, and sleep disturbances.
After HGH Therapy
After therapy, women have stated that common benefits include increased energy, improved skin texture, better muscle tone, reduced fat, and improved overall well-being.
Women considering HGH therapy should consult a healthcare provider to determine if treatment is suitable for them and what kind of results they can expect before and after HGH treatment.