Growth Hormone
Also known as HGH, somatropin, rhGH
A real, approved hormone with a narrow legitimate use and an enormous grey market. Genuine deficiency aside, the cosmetic case is weak and the risks are not.
US $400–3,000/month legitimately. Grey-market pricing is lower and quality is unverifiable.
How it works
Recombinant human growth hormone acts on the liver to raise IGF-1, which drives cell proliferation, lipolysis and, in children with open growth plates, longitudinal bone growth. In adults the plates are fused, so it cannot increase height — it changes body composition and soft tissue instead.
How it's used
Legitimately prescribed for diagnosed GH deficiency, Turner syndrome, and some paediatric growth disorders, after stimulation testing by an endocrinologist. Adult use for physique or anti-ageing is off-label, and in several countries distributing it for those purposes is a criminal offence. If you suspect deficiency, ask for testing rather than sourcing it.
Trade-offs
In favour
- Genuinely corrects diagnosed deficiency
- Reduces fat mass and modestly increases lean mass
- Improves quality of life in true adult GH deficiency
Against
- Cannot increase adult height — growth plates are fused
- Extremely expensive legitimately, and the grey market is heavily counterfeited
- Effects reverse when stopped
- Banned in essentially all tested sport
Risks and side effects
- Acromegaly-type changes with sustained supraphysiological use: brow ridge and jaw growth, enlarged hands and feet, coarsened features — these are permanent
- Insulin resistance and new-onset type 2 diabetes
- Carpal tunnel syndrome, oedema, joint pain
- Cardiomyopathy with prolonged high dosing
- IGF-1 elevation and its theoretical cancer-promotion risk
- Counterfeit product with unknown contents is the norm outside pharmacy channels
How good is the evidence?
Strong evidence in diagnosed deficiency. Evidence for cosmetic or anti-ageing use in healthy adults is weak, and the risk profile is well characterised.
Sources
- Growth hormone in adults — clinical guidanceEndocrine Society
- Growth hormone misuse and adverse effectsPubMed
Sources point to guideline bodies and literature searches rather than single papers, so they stay accurate as the evidence moves.