The Effects Of Hgh On The Female Body

Human growth hormone, or HGH, is released from the anterior pituitary gland under the stimulus of the hypothalamus, a portion of the brain that regulates body temperature and hunger. In females, growth hormone together with estrogen and other factors, stimulate breast growth. HGH is also involved in maintenance of the female sex drive. Growth hormone also increases blood glucose and the use of fat as energy.

Regulation of HGH

The release of HGH depends on the balance between factors that stimulate HGH release and those that inhibit HGH release. Conditions that increase HGH release include exercise, sleep, fasting and low blood glucose. In puberty, HGH is increased as a result of increased estrogen. HGH facilitates the actions of estrogen in the development of the female sexual characteristics. Growth hormone secretion is inhibited by high blood glucose and by hormones that increase glucose in the blood.

Excess Growth Hormones

Excess production of HGH can occur before or after puberty. Excess HGH before puberty causes gigantism, a condition of excess growth and height that exceeds the population average. Excess HGH after puberty causes acromegaly or a condition of excess growth in the extremities but without increases in height. Acromegaly also causes changes in facial features as a result of abnormal growth and changes in facial bones.

Insufficient Growth Hormone

Conditions that result in growth hormone deficiency are common in children but rare in adults. In children, the likely cause of HGH deficiency are genetic. Lack of HGH in children, results and abnormal growth, shortness and delays in sexual maturity. In adults, HGH deficiency is usually caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland, but in some cases, the cause of growth hormone deficiency is unknown.

HGH as Treatment

In 1996, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of HGH, or somatotropin, in treating shortness resulting from the lack of growth hormone in children. The FDA also has approved the use of growth hormone as an anti-aging medication for treating age-related symptoms that may occur due to lack of HGH in the elderly.