Growth hormone (GH or HGH), also known as somatotropin or somatropin, is a hormone responsible for growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals.[1] It is specific only to certain kinds of cells.
Growth hormone is used as a prescription drug in medicine to treat children's and adults growth disorders.[2] In the United States, it is only available legally by prescription from a doctor. HGH is a very complex hormone, and many of its functions are still unknown.[3]
Synthetic human growth hormone was developed in 1985 and approved by the FDA for specific uses in children and adults. In children, HGH injections are approved for treating short stature of unknown cause as well as poor growth due to a number of medical causes, including: