FAQ on human growth hormone
Q. Will Dr. Chen prescribe human growth hormone (HGH) for me?
A.
HGH injections are currently very controversial, although the
American Academy of Anti-Aging Physicians are proponents of this
therapy. There has been much publicity over the past year
regarding its illegal use by the anti-aging industry. The FDA
is currently investigating into the illegal distribution and/or
prescription of HGH, mostly for anti-aging and bodybuilding claims.
It is extremely costly ($10-20 thousand per year) and is usually not
covered by insurance. It is only legal to prescribe this hormone to
patients with documented deficiency within the United States, per
FDA regulations. Dr. Chen recommends patients study Dr. Jay
Olshansky's, PhD, article: "New Developments in the
Illegal Provision of Growth Hormone for 'Anti-Aging' and
Bodybuilding" in JAMA, vol. 299, no. 23, June 18, 2008, for an
updated synopsis of this topic. Partial viewing of the article
is available at the JAMA
website. While Dr. Chen continues to educate herself
regarding the use of HGH, she currently does not prescribe it for
patients. It is her opinion that other, less controversial problems
be addressed first before turning to HGH. For example, if a woman
is suffering from nightly insomnia since entering menopause, then
placing her first on proper HRT is more likely to restore sleep, and
allow the natural production of HGH (which is secreted during the
deep stages of sleep) makes more sense than to bypass the actual
root cause of the insomnia by initiating HGH injections. For those
who wish to pursue this type of treatment, please visit
www.worldhealth.net for
further information.