Growth Hormone Side Effects
Human growth hormone is not an anabolic steroid.
It is classified as a peptide/protein hormone, not a specific type of steroid hormone.
It is also not a gender-specific hormone, meaning that not only is it completely free of the typical side effects of all anabolic steroids, but both men and women can utilize human growth hormone with equal effectiveness.
As mentioned earlier, human growth hormone is not a sex hormone of any kind, so female users will not experience any masculinizing androgenic virility effects.
By the same logic, male users will not experience any estrogenic side effects either.
However, it has been found that human growth hormone is an important mediating hormone (working in conjunction with estrogen) in the development of gynecomastia [1].
This particular interaction is very important to note if you plan to use anabolic steroids in conjunction with human growth hormone.
Human Growth Hormone Side Effects While there are very few side effects associated with anabolic steroids, human growth hormone has a variety of side effects with unique characteristics that must be considered.
Common Human Growth Hormone Side Effects
Joint pain
This is a common side effect experienced by many users, although a large percentage of users do not experience this side effect at all.
This is due to two mechanisms:
1. the growth of new tissue (in this case, connective tissue in the joints) often causes pain, but this pain is not a sign of joint damage, but a positive effect of growth and repair,
2. fluid retention due to human growth hormone.
Joint pain is often a side effect of human growth hormone, and is most severe when high doses are taken suddenly.
Usually this joint pain subsides within a short period of time after human growth hormone use, but it can be avoided or reduced by introducing the dose slowly.
Of course, it's only natural that excessive or high doses will result in more severe joint pain.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
A frequent HGH side effect that is a direct result of fluid retention around tendons, joints, and connective tissue.
In this case, the water retention in the tissues around the nerves causes these tissues to press on the nerves at several key points (mainly around the joints).
The result is carpal tunnel syndrome in temporary cases.
Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by human growth hormone administration is characterized by tingling or numbness in the extremities (hands and feet), especially when the limbs are in a folded position for long periods of time.
In these cases, the limb is often numb, but sensation gradually returns when the limb is stretched and moved, followed by a period of tingling and then a return of sensation.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is often a temporary side effect of human growth hormone, and tends to go away when you stop using it.
In the worst cases, nerves in certain areas can be damaged, resulting in long-term or permanent loss of sensation.
Once again, the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome worsens the higher the dose.
Water retention
As already mentioned several times, water retention is a specific side effect of human growth hormone that often diminishes after a few weeks of use, but some users have reported that this side effect persists for the entire duration of use.
This side effect can increase the likelihood of increased blood pressure and increase the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome, as discussed above.
Gynecomastia
HGH side effects can include gynecomastia.
As mentioned earlier, human growth hormone is an important mediating hormone that works in conjunction with estrogen in the development of gynecomastia1.
For this reason, it is important to recognize that stacking anabolic steroids with human growth hormone may increase the likelihood of developing gynecomastia.
Some users have experienced the development of gynecomastia without the use of aromatizing anabolic steroids, but this is a rare case where the individual's body is highly sensitive to the effects of human growth hormone, even when estrogen levels are low or normal.
Individuals can effectively address this issue by using an aromatase inhibitor (when using an aromatizable anabolic steroid in conjunction with human growth hormone) or by using a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) such as Nolvadex to block estrogen from attaching to and activating receptor sites in breast tissue.
Because estrogen is a key catalyst in the development of gynecomastia, and must be present in sufficient amounts along with human growth hormone to cause this side effect, this approach can negate the effects of human growth hormone on gynecomastia development.
Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a condition characterized by excessive bone growth in the body, most prominently in the hands, feet, jaw (mandible), and forehead.
Acromegaly is usually the result of excessively high levels of human growth hormone in a person, either from natural endogenous or exogenous causes.
Acromegaly is one type of acromegaly that is caused by excessive production of endogenous human growth hormone by the pituitary gland.
What needs to be clarified regarding this side effect is the fact that two requirements are necessary for this condition to appear:
1. long-term use of growth hormone (continuous use for years),
2. the use of excessive and/or high doses of human growth hormone, especially over a long period of time. Intermittent administration of human growth hormone in moderate doses does not produce these effects.
Nevertheless, enlargement of the hands, feet, and jaw does not occur overnight, but over a period of years (hence the need for prolonged excessive abuse for this effect).
This long, gradual effect is usually not noticeable unless compared to a photo from, for example, seven or more years ago (if you have been using human growth hormone continuously during this time).
Hypoglycemia and diabetes development
If your blood sugar levels are not monitored properly, or if you use human growth hormone in high doses over a period of time, you are at risk of developing hypoglycemia and diabetes.
Hypoglycemia can and does occur in the early days of human growth hormone use, even in small doses, and while hypoglycemia is not a serious or life-threatening side effect in the short term, repeated episodes of hypoglycemia over a long period of time can lead to diabetes.
Human growth hormone decreases the body's insulin sensitivity and increases blood sugar levels.
This can happen even in people who did not previously have diabetes.
Organ growth
Because growth hormone heals, repairs, and grows almost every cell and tissue type in the body, organ enlargement can occur as a result.
Once again, as with the side effects of acromegaly, human growth hormone should not be taken in high doses or used for long periods of time.
Organ growth is a slow process over a long period of time, and it happens more quickly with high or excessive doses of growth hormone.
This GH side effect often leads to a phenomenon colloquially known as a “GH belly” or “HGH belly,” which is commonly seen in top-level professional bodybuilders.
In these cases, the growth of an organ (in this case, specifically the intestines) becomes large enough to begin pressing outward on the abdomen, often giving the appearance of a curved intestine.
Other rare side effects, which vary from person to person, include flu-like symptoms, headache, back pain, dizziness, nausea, and rhinitis (inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and sinuses, resulting in a “stuffy nose” feeling).
These side effects are very rare, and even when they do occur, they usually appear in the first few days or weeks of use and subside quickly as the body gets used to the high human growth hormone levels.
Growth Hormone References
[1] J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 1998 May;53(3):M183-7
