Would i qualify for synthetic HGH?

[fred21]

Im 5"4, 14, projected adult height is 5"4 to 5"5. My bone age is 17. Would I qualify? Why or why not? Im a male.

[proudmom311]

If your bone age is 17, your growth plates in your bones are getting close to closing. This means your growth is going to slow down. My daughter (she is 14 and 5') has had several bone age xrays take and I am an xray tech. GH do have side affects and are very expensive upwards of $10,000 a year. Usually injections daily for 1-2 years. Please check with your pediatrian and your parents about your concerns.Remember statue does not make the man, the heart inside the man, makes the man. Good luck.

[enzymelover]

  Is anyone else in your family on the short side? Aunts, uncles etc.? If you feel that you have stopped growing too soon, it could be a problem with your pituitary gland, such as an abnormal growth on the gland. Do you have any symptoms such as fatigue or weakness, low muscle tone, frequent headaches or vision problems?
You would not be given growth hormone if there is a cyst or lesion on your pituitary causing loss of growth hormone. You should get an MRI to rule this out, especially if you are not feeling well in any significant way.
If there is no thyroid or pituitary abnormality, you should discuss GH injections with an endocrinologist, who will take your entire health history into account before deciding if it would be worthwhile.
I would think a short course of GH could be tried without harm, but I don't really know. It would be up to your endocrinologist.