What is the best age to start Growth Hormone Therapy?

Sometimes, the body cannot produce enough growth hormone to support normal growth and perform certain functions. In such cases, a doctor may prescribe growth hormone therapy in the form of injections. But What is the best age to start Growth Hormone Therapy? Read on to find out.

What is the best age to start Growth Hormone Therapy?

Some children have genetic mutations or issues that cause the body to not produce enough growth hormone to support normal growth. In these cases, doctors may recommend growth hormone therapy, which involves a series of medications used to stimulate the body to produce growth factors. But the question remains: What is the best age to start Growth Hormone Therapy?

Growth hormone therapy can be administered at any age, but the appropriate age depends on the child's health condition. A doctor might recommend therapy as soon as signs of growth problems are detected, which is often before or at the onset of early puberty.

However, treatment may be recommended earlier, at a younger age, if the child has a previously diagnosed and confirmed condition such as Turner syndrome or any medical condition affecting normal growth.

It is important to note that growth hormone therapy cannot be initiated after the growth plates in a child's bones have fused. This typically occurs around age 14 in females and age 16 in males. 

Does the Timing of Growth Hormone Therapy Affect the Outcome?

Absolutely, yes. Early diagnosis and starting treatment within the appropriate age for growth hormone therapy have a significant impact on the success of the treatment and the likelihood of seeing promising results in a child's growth and development.

In general, changes begin to appear in the child within 3 to 6 months of starting the therapy. The most notable changes observed include:

• An increase in the child's height by 2.5 to 5 cm during the first six months of therapy.
• Rapid growth of the child's feet, usually occurring within 6 to 8 weeks.
• A significant increase in the child's appetite.
• An increase in lean body mass and decrease of fat mass.

It is important to note that the treatment may take several years, requiring routine visits to an endocrinologist, periodic blood tests, and X-rays to monitor the child's progress with the therapy. 

Blazma offers all the tests that a doctor may request, including the growth hormone test, which requires a blood sample after the patient has fasted for several hours.

Can Adults Require Growth Hormone Therapy?

Yes, while the body tends to produce less growth hormone in middle age, growth hormone deficiency is not limited to children; adults can also suffer from it.

If the condition appears in childhood or adolescence, the child may experience short stature. However, if hormone levels drop significantly in adults, the body's ability to perform certain functions will be affected. Therefore, a doctor may prescribe growth hormone therapy for adults, and the treatment may continue, unlike in children, where treatment stops once the desired results are achieved.

Here are some key bodily functions that require sufficient levels of growth hormone in both children and adults:

• Regulating insulin and blood sugar levels.
• Breaking down fats.
• Producing proteins.
• Having the energy required for regular exercise.
• Preventing heart disease.
• Building and maintaining muscle mass.
• Maintaining bone density to prevent fractures.