Human growth hormone (HGH) is an important hormone produced by the pituitary gland that helps regulate growth, metabolism, and overall health. As we age, HGH levels naturally decline, which can lead to undesirable effects like increased body fat, decreased muscle mass, reduced bone density, decreased energy levels, and impacts on skin, hair, mood, sleep, sexual function, and cognition. HGH deficiency is increasingly common, especially for those over 30, and can significantly reduce quality of life while accelerating aging.
Luckily, HGH therapy has emerged as an effective treatment option through injections of bioidentical growth hormone to restore levels and counteract deficiency. But to determine if you are a candidate, diagnostic blood tests and close work with a knowledgeable hormone doctor are imperative. Keep reading to learn all about HGH, including deficiency signs, potential benefits of properly-administered treatment, what to expect, and why Vitality Hormone Clinic should be your top choice in Irvine and Orange County.
Since low HGH exhibits rather nonspecific symptoms like fatigue, gaining an accurate diagnosis can be difficult. The Endocrine Society provides clinical guidelines doctors use to identify candidates for growth hormone therapy. Blood tests are required, usually after fasting, to measure IGF-1 levels. IGF-1, or insulin-like growth factor 1, is stimulated by HGH and therefore serves as the primary marker of HGH activity in the body.
Additional pituitary hormone blood tests help determine if deficiency stems from pituitary gland dysfunction or hypothalamus issues disrupting signals to the pituitary. Provocative tests, involving stimulation of HGH using substances like arginine or clonidine may also be recommended. Thorough review of health history, risk factors, and presenting symptoms should accompany lab work to reach a definitive diagnosis.
SYMPTOMS OF HGH DEFICIENCY:
If experiencing multiple concerning symptoms and over the age of 30, request HGH lab tests from your hormone doctor or endocrinologist to determine if treatment may help.
Once diagnosed with clinically low HGH, hormone replacement therapy with bioidentical growth hormone injections can help restore levels for improved health, body composition, and wellbeing.
Over 15 years of medical research and clinical evidence support HGH therapy benefits when properly administered under doctor supervision. Possible improvements include:
Of course benefits vary based on correct dosing, age, diet, lifestyle habits, and commitment to continuing therapy long-term under doctor supervision. But the incredible regenerative power of HGH allows targeting many aging-related declines.
To determine if you are a candidate for growth hormone therapy, diagnostic tests, evaluation of your health history, and assessment of risk factors must be reviewed by a trained hormone doctor. Deficiency alone does not always warrant treatment.
IDEAL HGH THERAPY CANDIDATES:
HGH therapy introduces additional growth hormone to get your levels back to a more youthful range. It is not about taking supraphysiological doses to become "superhuman". Your end goal is balanced hormone levels for proper body functioning.
Commit to testing, be ready to partner closely with your hormone doctor, and adjust some lifestyle factors to get the most anti-aging, body-transforming benefits from growth hormone therapy.
Beginning an individualized HGH therapy program requires oversight from an experienced hormone doctor to ensure your dosage, frequency, and ongoing progress monitoring are dialed in based on your body's unique needs and hormonal status. Blood tests must be run prior to confirm a deficiency.
Here is an overview of starting growth hormone replacement therapy:
1. Initial doctor consultation - Your hormone doctor will meet with you to discuss symptoms, health history, diagnosis results from blood and other medical tests, treatment options, and therapy goals. Any additional testing needed will also be determined.
2. Final dose calculation - Using your blood tests and medical information, your precise dosage will be calculated based on your deficiency severity, body composition, and sensitivity predictions.
3. Injection training - Your doctor will demonstrate proper injection techniques including safe needle handling, rotation of sites, and disposal.
4. Begin HGH therapy - Self-administer growth hormone injections daily in the evening when naturally produced. Stick closely to your prescribed dosage.
5. Follow-up assessments - Expect blood tests after 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and periodically afterwards to check IGF-1, adjust dosage as needed, and monitor progress.
6. Continue therapy long-term - It takes 9-12 months for full benefits and requires sustained treatment under supervision. Most patients utilize HGH therapy for anti-aging purposes from 2-10 years.
While self-administered at home, medical oversight throughout the process remains critical for health and safety. You must closely follow your certified hormone doctor's treatment recommendations to minimize adverse effects. Schedule regular progress assessments so your protocol can be adjusted until hormone normalization in achieved. Talk to your Vitality Hormone Clinic specialist for next steps in getting started.
Pharmaceutical-grade bioidentical human growth hormone is precisely manufactured to perfectly match the growth hormone physiology naturally produced by your pituitary gland. This allows HGH therapy to restore declining levels safely and effectively.
For treatment of hormone deficiency, bioidentical HGH is only administered via subcutaneous injection using small insulin-style syringes. Injection protocols involve standard doses between 1-3 IU daily. Dosing must start low and get titrated up slowly based on regular blood tests and doctor evaluation since each body responds uniquely. Never self-increase your prescribed dosage without explicit medical approval.
Most patients inject growth hormone every evening before bed when HGH secretions peak naturally. This helps mirror your body’s normal daily rhythms. Think of it as taking a daily medication. While injections represent somewhat of an inconvenience, they constitute the only delivery method ensuring enough growth hormone enters your bloodstream while avoiding destruction as would happen via oral dosing. So they remain necessary to reap all anti-aging benefits of treatment despite small learning curve.
With a properly calculated dose, correct injection technique, adherence to your custom protocol, and monitoring by a knowledgeable hormone therapy doctor, human growth hormone administration can be smooth and effective. Be patient through the initial adjustment phase as it takes months for improvements to fully materialize. But within the year, most patients find the small hassle of daily HGH injections worthwhile for the ensuing gains in strength, body composition, mood, and wellbeing.
With hormone therapy, who you choose as your doctor and clinic matters. Vitality Hormone Clinic brings together top hormone therapy doctors with decades of specialized training and experience successfully diagnosing and treating all varieties of hormone disorders and imbalances.
We are a national leader in HGH therapy due to our unparalleled precision protocols driven by extensive testing, superior analytics, and consistent patient follow up. We fine tune programs to your unique body physiology. Our incredible track record stems directly from this doctor-scientist approach focused on optimization.
OUR HGH THERAPY ADVANTAGE:
Our Irvine clinic provides Orange County and greater Los Angeles residents struggling with hormonal disorders easy access to empathetic doctors leveraging science for life improvement through hormone optimization. Instead of just treating diseases reactively, our functional, regenerative approach enhances wellness proactively.
Local clients praise our inviting offices, transparency throughout the therapy process, patient-focused customer service, and understanding of Southern California lifestyle factors that may influence treatment. We empower patients to take charge of hormone health for a better aging journey.
IRVINE & ORANGE COUNTY PERKS: - Knowledge of regional norms - Compare to OC residents specifically - Convenient beachside location - Easy access off 405 in Irvine Spectrum district - Leverage of area amenities - Santa Ana's fitness scene key for progress - Doctor-patient partnership - We guide but you lead your transformation - Care listening to lifestyle - Understand impacts of LA’s pace
Our unique clinical method combines functional health, regenerative medicine, and age management for whole-person care. Instead of isolated symptoms, we offer extensive testing to assess your entire endocrine system. This analysis of the interconnected hormone network provides targeted, cause-driven solutions.
We help locals frustrated with energy crashes, unexplained weight gain, emotional swings, sexual issues, and other deflating effects of aging reclaim their vitality. With a science-first perspective but understanding of realistic lifestyle constraints, Vitality Hormone Clinic empowers patients anywhere across LA to fight back against hormone decline. Regain your health on your terms with guidance from Orange County’s premier hormone therapy clinic.
Dr. John Smith, Chief Medical Officer and Age Management Physician
With nearly 40 years practicing internal and anti-aging medicine, Dr. Smith provides experienced leadership for Vitality Hormone Clinic’ clinical operations, safety processes, and therapy innovation pipelines. Early in his career, Dr. Smith studied under Dr. Thierry Hertoghe, a European pioneer in hormone replacement. This allowed him to develop expertise diagnosing and treating growth hormone and testosterone deficiencies decades before most physicians even acknowledged legitimacy of hormone therapy.
Today, Dr. Smith continues advancing best practices in hormonal wellness through nuanced protocols rooted in diagnostics, genetics, supplementation, and lifestyle guidance. He focuses specifically on the youth-restoring potential of bioidentical hormone restoration for men and women as a way to prolong strength, cognition, sexual vitality, and happiness later into the aging process.
Irvine presents the ideal location for growth hormone therapy success in Southern California thanks to:
Take advantage of Orange County amenities facilitating lifestyle adjustments central to effective growth hormone therapy. Prioritize nutrient-dense eating, consistent moderate exercise, stress reduction methods, and tracking progress through follow up blood tests and doctor visits. Leverage helpful local businesses and Irvine’s communal focus on vital living to further your transformation. Contact Vitality Hormone Clinic to begin your HGH treatment journey today!
