How Does Growth Hormone Testing Work?

Hormone Replacement Therapy

HGH Replacement

Human Growth Hormone Deficiency Testing

How does HGH Testing work?

Although Human Growth Hormone Levels are generally not tested regularly, if you feel that you are suffering from the effects of Human Growth Hormone Deficiency as you grow older, you should talk to your physician about having your ability to produce HGH Effectively tested.

There are a few beneficial tests that can effectively diagnose HGH Deficiency. HGH Testing is utilized to evaluate Growth Hormone Production, providing your physician with all of the data that he or she needs to provide a proper diagnosis.

These tests can also pinpoint precisely what physiological processes are going haywire, leading to your issues with HGH Production. These tests can also diagnose disorders resulting from an overactive pituitary, such as gigantism or acromegaly.

IGF-1 Testing Useful for HGH Deficiency Diagnosis

In addition to Human Growth Hormone Testing, doctors often also provide IGF-1 Testing to provide a more enhanced scope of your endocrine function. Insulin-like Growth Factor One is produced by the body as a direct result of HGH Stimulation but is present in the body for a more extended period of time while also maintaining a more stable baseline, which makes the diagnosis of HGH Deficiency or Excessive HGH Production easier to uncover.

HGH Stimulation Tests and HGH Suppression Tests

To assess a patient's Pituitary Capacity to Release Human Growth Hormone, there are Growth Hormone Stimulation Tests and Growth Hormone Suppression Tests. Both of these forms of testing are incredibly effective at evaluating the pituitary's response and your body's current capacity to release Human Growth Hormone.

HGH Stim Test Protocol

The primary reason HGH Stimulation Tests are administered is to assist in diagnosing Hypopituitarism and Growth Hormone Deficiency. To effectively perform an HGH Stim Test, a patient must have his or her blood drawn after a period of ten to twelve hours of fast. After this fasting period, the patient is injected with a solution of either arginine or insulin by a qualified medical professional.

The patient undergoes a series of blood tests administered over specific time intervals.

Each blood sample will be tested for Blood-Serum Growth Hormone to assess whether the pituitary effectively increases production in response to these known Human Growth Hormone Stimulators. If this testing does not increase HGH Secretion, then the condition is a direct issue relating to pituitary function.

Suppose Human Growth Hormone Release increases as a result of stimulation testing. In that case, the issue is most likely related to the function of the Hypothalamus and the release of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GH-RH). In addition to insulin and arginine, glucagon and clonidine can be used to assess pituitary function accurately.

HGH Suppression Test Protocol

Human Growth Hormone Suppression Testing can be used to test the opposite condition, Excess Release of Human Growth Hormone. This sort of evaluation can be used in combination with other forms of blood testing, MRIs, and other types of imaging to pinpoint and ID tumors of the pituitary gland. In HGH Suppression Testing, blood samples are taken after fasting, lasting between ten and twelve hours.

With an empty stomach, the patient then drinks a solution of glucose and water, which in regular patients, directly stimulates the suppression of Growth Hormone Production. After the Glucose solution has been given time to settle, Growth Hormone Levels are tested periodically using blood samples to assess any changes in pituitary function.

In a regular patient, Human Growth Hormone Levels will drop in direct correlation with increased levels of glucose in the bloodstream. Throughout this Suppression Evaluation, Blood-Sugar Levels are monitored closely to evaluate the patient for Diabetes or other disorders resulting from an incapacity to control Glucose and Insulin Levels properly.

Other Forms of Hormone Evaluation

There are also a number of other tests which provide an analysis of Growth Hormone Production and Pituitary Sufficiency. Among these tests are Luteinizing Hormone Testing, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Testing, Cortisol Evaluation, and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and T4 Testing. In male patients, Testosterone Levels are also evaluated.

These tests are generally administered before Growth Hormone Evaluation to ensure that there aren't other issues that can be resolved without turning to direct HGH Stimulators or Suppressors. In patients with hypothyroidism, for example, thyroid deficiency must be treated before the patient can be adequately evaluated for Growth Hormone Deficiency. In a large proportion of patients, Thyroid Treatment resolves underlying HGH Issues as well.

Exercise HGH Stimulation

Many physicians also utilize physical exercise to test Human Growth Hormone Deficiency. Physical activity directly stimulates Growth Hormone Production. Many medical professionals will draw blood samples before and after strenuous physical activity to see if the patient increases their Growth Hormone Production as a result of physical activity.

When is Human Growth Hormone Testing Needed?

HGH Stim Testing is recommended when children or adults show signs of Human Growth Hormone Deficiency.

Childhood HGH Deficiency

In children, Growth Hormone Testing is offered for young patients that are not growing at the same rate as their peers. HGH Hormone Replacement Therapy is only offered if T4 Testing shows that the thyroid is functioning correctly because Thyroid Deficiency can result in many symptoms that mirror HGH Deficiency. HGH Stimulation should also be used for children with bones that are not growing correctly, as evaluated using X-ray Imaging.

Adult HGH Deficiency

In adults, Pituitary Stimulation Testing is provided for men and women that display Hypopituitarism or Growth Hormone Deficiency. Symptoms of HGH Deficiency include:

• Unexplained Weight Gain

• Fatigue

• Decreased Bone Mineral Density

• Reduced Tolerance for Exercise

• Muscle Atrophy

• Trouble Sleeping

Before HGH Stim Testing is offered, your physician will generally execute other testing forms to ensure that your medical condition is likely the result of Low Levels of Human Growth Hormone rather than other issues that could create similar symptoms. In children, Growth Hormone Deficiency is relatively rare.

In men and women over the age of thirty, Adult-Onset HGH Deficiency occurs slowly and steadily due to the aging process. Sudden and severe Growth Hormone Deficiency seldom occurs in adults, although patients with Childhood HGH Deficiency often carry that deficiency into adulthood.

Gigantism/Acromegaly Testing

Human Growth Hormone Suppression Evaluation is provided when young patients show symptoms of gigantism or adult patients display symptoms of acromegaly. In children and adults, HGH Suppression Testing is often ordered if there is reason to believe that the patient may have a tumor on or around the pituitary gland, affecting the gland's proper function.

This form of testing may also be used in addition to monitoring IGF-1 to gauge the effectiveness of treatments that slow down the release of Human Growth Hormone.

What do the Results of Human Growth Hormone Testing Mean?

It is essential to be cautious when evaluating the results of Growth Hormone Testing. Because Growth Hormone is released in pulses by the pituitary gland, GH Levels tested at random are of limited use.

This is because, as a result of normal Pituitary Variation, Human Growth Hormone levels can appear too high or too low in a single instant when Growth Hormone Levels are sufficiently average when monitored across the entire day.

HGH Levels will naturally be at their highest during the morning hours, and stress and physical activity will cause Growth Hormone Release to increase. It is far more effective to monitor IGF-1 levels to get an accurate picture of overall Growth Hormone Secretion than to undergo testing which directly stimulates the pituitary.

Growth Hormone Stimulation Evaluation

Suppose HGH Production is not increased correctly due to Pituitary Stimulation Testing, and the patient displays symptoms of Growth Hormone Deficiency in addition to displaying abnormally low levels of IGF-1. In that case, Human Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy can likely be incredibly beneficial to the patient.

If the patient has low levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, then the patient should be treated for Thyroid Insufficiency before seeking treatment for Low Levels of HGH. Growth Hormone Deficiency can also sometimes be the result of overall Hypopituitarism, which affects many hormones released by the entire pituitary.

Growth Hormone Suppression Evaluation

Suppose HGH does not properly decline due to Pituitary Suppression Testing, and the patient shows symptoms of acromegaly or gigantism in addition to displaying abnormally high levels of IGF-1. In that case, the patient is secreting too much Human Growth Hormone.

If MRI, CT Scan, or X-Ray shows a malformation on the pituitary, then the patient is experiencing increased HGH release as a direct result of that tumor. Tumors of this origin are benign in the majority of cases.

What else should I know about HGH Testing?

Tumors on or around the pituitary are the most common reason the pituitary releases excessive Human Growth Hormone. Sometimes, tumors can decrease pituitary function, mainly when the tumor is located around the pituitary.

Tumors of the pituitary can also affect the production of other Pituitary Hormones such as Prolactin, ACTH, and other hormones. If tumors reach a specific size, they can completely shut down pituitary function and damage the pituitary tissue and surrounding areas of the brain.

Chemicals, Medications, and Hormones that Interfere with HGH Testing

The following factors can inhibit the effectiveness of Growth Hormone Testing:

These drugs can artificially raise Growth Hormone Levels:

• Glucagon

• Estrogen

• Dopamine

• Arginine

• Amphetamines

• Insulin

• Histamine

• Nicotinic Acid

• M-Dopa

• L-Dopa

The following drugs and imaging techniques can decrease Growth Hormone Production:

• Phenothiazines

• Corticosteroids

• Radioactive Visual Testing (Short Term over the Course of a Week)

In most circumstances, HGH Levels can be adjusted once they are correctly diagnosed. Bio-Identical Human Growth Hormone is a potent and valuable treatment that can resolve issues relating to both Childhood and Adult Human Growth Hormone Deficiency.

HGH Overdose and Deficiency Treatment

For patients releasing too much Human Growth Hormone, a combination of radiation, Medication, and/or Surgery can be used to limit the production of Human Growth Hormone by the Somatotrophs of the Pituitary.

Long-Term Risks of HGH Imbalance

Treating Excess Growth Hormone Production Quickly is vital to improving the odds of effective treatment. Gigantism is permanent if not treated swiftly, and Acromegaly is also permanent if bone tissue calcifies.

In young patients with HGH Deficiency, if the disorder is not treated promptly, then the patient will be shorter than usual in adulthood. The window for Childhood HGH for Idiopathic Short Stature closes when the epiphyseal plates close.

Excess Growth Hormone Secretion can lead to a number of long-term medical issues. Acromegaly increases the risk of medical impairments ranging from vision problems, high blood pressure, and diabetes to polyps on the colon.

Some tumors can also cause permanent medical conditions as well. If a tumor causes pituitary damage, the patient will likely need multiple forms of Hormone Replacement Therapy to treat the malfunction.

There are also a number of issues that can result directly from Acromegaly and Gigantism resulting from Excess HGH Secretion, including weakened bones, arthritis, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Rarely may a patient have problems that seem related to Growth Hormone Deficiency because of hereditary resistance to Growth Hormone. In most of these cases, HGH Deficiency symptoms result from IGF-1 Deficiency, with no impairment to the production of Human Growth Hormone or GH-RH.

Suppose you feel that you or a loved one may be suffering from any symptoms arising from pituitary malfunction. In that case, we encourage you to talk to a physician as soon as possible to assess treatment options.

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