Who Takes HGH?

Short answer: Physicians prescribe human growth hormone (HGH) for clearly defined medical conditions—chiefly growth-hormone deficiency in children and adults and HIV-related wasting—yet the compound is also taken, without regulatory approval, by wellness seekers, biohackers, and competitive athletes looking for an edge. Each group has distinct motives, risks, and legal constraints.

Why Medical Patients Receive HGH

Therapeutic use accounts for the only FDA-sanctioned indications in the United States and comparable approvals worldwide.

Pediatric deficiency cases

Congenital or acquired growth-hormone deficiency affects roughly 1 in 1,100 – 1 in 8,600 children globally. Endocrinologists initiate daily recombinant HGH injections to normalize height velocity, improve bone density, and prevent metabolic complications. Families typically spend £5,000–£10,000 ($6,300–$12,600) per year, a cost usually covered when strict diagnostic criteria from organizations such as the Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES) are met.

Adult growth-hormone deficiency (AGHD)

After epiphyseal closure, deficiency presents with central obesity, low muscle mass, dyslipidemia, and reduced quality of life. Epidemiological studies place prevalence at 2–3 per 10,000 adults, though broader screening suggests up to 37 per 100,000 may be affected. Guidelines from the Endocrine Society support replacement therapy only after dynamic pituitary testing confirms deficiency.

HIV-associated wasting

Despite modern antiretroviral therapy, 14 – 38 % of people living with HIV develop cachexia. Twelve-week HGH protocols supervised by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) have added an average 3 kg of lean body mass and improved nitrogen balance, justifying FDA approval for this narrow indication.

Off-Label Wellness Users

Outside formal medicine, HGH is marketed as a panacea—often stretching or ignoring the law.

Anti-aging clientele

Private “longevity clinics” and members of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) promote low-dose HGH to counter sarcopenia, skin thinning, or decreased vitality. Meta-analyses show modest lean-mass gains in adults over 60 but also frequent edema, arthralgia, and insulin resistance. U.S. federal law (21 U.S.C. § 333) bans distribution for these non-approved purposes, yet demand persists.

Cosmetic biohackers

Self-experimenters congregating on forums like the Biohackers Collective combine HGH with peptides, metformin, or gene therapy to “recode” aging. Publicized cases, such as entrepreneur Elizabeth Parrish’s unsupervised protocol, highlight the blurred line between self-care and unregulated clinical research.

Injury-rehabilitation enthusiasts

Small randomized studies found that adding HGH to standard physical therapy after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction improved quadriceps strength by nearly 30 % and reduced cartilage-breakdown biomarkers. While promising, these regimens remain experimental and uninsured; orthopedic teams at the University of Michigan Sports Medicine stress that long-term safety is unknown.

Athletic and Bodybuilding Segments

Competitive advantage, rather than health, drives HGH use in sport—despite firm prohibitions.

Strength athletes

Powerlifters and baseball players pair HGH with anabolic steroids to accelerate muscle hypertrophy and tendon repair. The practice came to public attention when Major League Baseball’s Mitchell Report cited 89 players for HGH procurement. Detection technology has improved, but survey data suggest roughly 1 – 5 % of elite power athletes still cycle the hormone.

Endurance athletes

Sprinters occasionally report faster sprint times, yet controlled trials reveal no meaningful boost in aerobic capacity. The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) notes that most endurance gains stem from concurrent erythropoietin or training innovations, not HGH itself.

Physique competitors

In bodybuilding, HGH is reputed to create the “classic” wide-shoulder, small-waist look when combined with insulin and fat-loss drugs. The IFBB Pro League lists HGH under its strictly banned peptide-hormone category, and athletes caught face multi-year suspensions.

Ethical and Regulatory Landscape

Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) permits HGH only through a TUE after MRI evidence of pituitary damage or genetic testing confirms deficiency. Applications are rare and rigorously audited.

WADA prohibitions

HGH sits on WADA’s S2 list of peptide hormones, prohibited both in- and out-of-competition. The detection window is short—often under 24 hours—yet new isoform and biomarker assays have led to a rising number of positive tests since 2022.

Insurance coverage issues

For legitimate patients, financial access remains problematic. Data from America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) show that 32 % of U.S. patients discontinue therapy within one year due to copayments exceeding $350 per month. Off-label users pay the full retail price, typically $1,000–$2,000 per 10 mg vial.

Demographic Trends and Market Statistics

Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly control most recombinant HGH production, while generic manufacturers in India and China are expanding rapidly.

Key Takeaways

Medically, HGH remains a lifeline for children and adults with verified deficiency and for HIV patients battling wasting. Outside those diagnoses, its allure spans anti-aging clinics, biohacking circles, and elite sports—domains where legal risk, uncertain benefits, and potential side effects collide. As detection tools sharpen and insurers tighten criteria, the profile of “who takes HGH” continues to evolve, balancing legitimate therapy against the perpetual human quest for enhancement.