Human Growth Hormone Testing

What is a Human Growth Hormone (HGH) Test?

A Human Growth Hormone (HGH) test is a blood test used to measure the amount of Human Growth Hormone in a patient. HGH is manufactured by the pituitary gland and plays an important role in an individual’s growing process, as well as in how a body uses food for energy, also known as a body’s metabolism. The amount of HGH present in the blood not only changes throughout the day, but is also affected by the amount of sleep and exercise an individual gets, as well as emotional stress and diet.

Who May Need a Human Growth Hormone (HGH) Test?

Human Growth Hormone tests are often used by patients as a way to monitor the use of performance enhancing steroids. Also, patients who have been diagnosed with gigantism, which causes abnormally high growth spurts during childhood and early adulthood, or dwarfism, a condition which causes a child or young adult to grow more slowly than normal, are common recipients of this test. However, adults who have experienced an increase in HGH due to a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland known as adenoma, causing facial bones, hands and feet to grow much larger than normal, will also benefit from having their HGH levels tested regularly.

What Should I Expect from My Human Growth Hormone (HGH) Test?

A patient receiving a Human Growth Hormone (HGH) test will have their blood drawn and analyzed for abnormalities outside of the normal range. While abnormal test results should be examined by your physician, they may indicate the potential presence of conditions related to gigantism, dwarfism or issues with a patient’s pituitary gland. Many therapies exist if these conditions are caught early enough by this test, and should be discussed with your primary doctor or a specialist.