When starting any new therapy or medical treatment it is totally understandable to be concerned about how much it is going to cost. Being informed about how much human growth hormone therapy costs is helpful for you to plan and know exactly what to expect.
You should know that the costs of HGH therapy are not going to be the same for everyone and different factors like dosage, manufacturer (i.e. the brand of HGH), and where you’re buying from can play into exactly how much your course of therapy will cost.
Additionally, if you are taking a comprehensive treatment approach with additional medications such as ipamorelin, sermorelin, and CJC 1295 the cost of treatment can increase.
Keep reading to learn more about the cost of HGH therapy and what goes into it to decide your cost of treatment.
What is HGH Therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the process of taking hormones as a medication to restore your natural hormone levels to the appropriate range.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy is a form of hormone replacement therapy that restores your human growth hormone levels back to normal range. This hormone is naturally produced in the pituitary gland, a small gland that is located in the brain. HGH therapy is prescribed to those who have been diagnosed with low levels of human growth hormone.
HGH therapy has many benefits including boosting muscle growth, energy levels, quality of sleep, and more, leading to its notoriety as a sort of fountain of youth. It also can help to improve your sex life and boost metabolism.
Human growth hormone is also of course naturally important for growth, development, and sustaining body structure — because of this, HGH therapy has important benefits in these areas. For those that need HGH therapy, the benefits can be great and can truly help to improve quality of life.
How Much Does HGH Therapy Cost?
There is no set average monthly cost for HGH therapy. However, the average range for HGH therapy is from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars per month. This may seem like a large range of costs, but this is because many factors play into the costs.
If price is a big factor for you you can always talk with your health care provider to find a treatment plan that is effective for you in terms of symptom management and cost. By having an open and honest conversation with your provider you will have a plan that will fit your needs as well as possible.
What Impacts the Cost of HGH Replacement Therapy?
Understanding why your treatment may be more expensive than someone else’s can help you to feel more comfortable with the cost. Thinking of the cost of treatment in terms of a personalized investment can make more sense than thinking of paying more for the same cake at the store.
Since each person and treatment plan is different, the cost will be different as well. The length of treatment, your current hormone levels, where you are purchasing them from, your individual biology, and even the form of the therapy (HGH supplements pills versus sprays versus injectable HGH) all play a role in the cost of your treatment. This is what your provider will use to determine the cost of your GH therapy and can help you to plan for how much your treatments may cost.
How Long You Need Treatment For
Depending on how long you decide or need to do treatment for will impact your overall cost of HGH treatment.
If your body does not make any human growth hormone (i.e. you have a GH deficiency) the chances are you will need to take GH therapy for a majority of your life. Without the hormone at all you could face serious implications.
However, if your levels are only a little low from age you may only take the therapy until you decide with your doctor that it is no longer right for you. This makes it easier for you to have more control over your needs and how much you are spending on treatment. The less time that you are on HGH treatment, the less money you will have to spend overall and may play into your decision of the length of treatment and whether to start it in the first place.
Your Hormone Levels
Your hormone levels will have a large impact on your cost of treatment. The larger the dose you will need the more frequently you will have to purchase medication and the cost can add up.
There are 2 options: take a higher strength medication or take more of a weaker strength medication. This decision will be up to your healthcare provider, but either way it will be more money if you need a higher dose.
This dose is dependent on many things, but your current state of hormones plays a big role. If you have very low levels of hormone to begin with you will likely need a larger dose than someone with only a small deficiency. Your level of hormone will be determined through hormone testing before the initiation of your treatment.
Based on this finding the proper dose will be chosen and your cost can be better estimated.
Which Hormones You Get
The same way there are different brands and types of blood pressure medication, there are also different types and brands of HGH. Omnitrope (Novartis), Humatrope (Eli Lilly), Zomacton, Genotropin (Pfizer), and Norditropin® (somatropin by Novo Nordisk) are all different forms of human growth hormone with various formulas and injection types.
For example, Omnitrope and Zomacton are both usually injected with a needle and syringe, while Norditropin is typically injected with a pen.
Based on the form that you are prescribed will depend on the cost. Also, where you purchase your HGH will impact the price as well since the price is not the same at every clinic and pharmacy.
Additional Costs of HGH Replacement Therapy
HGH replacement therapy is not always only human growth hormone. Sometimes, your healthcare provider may prescribe an adjunct therapy as well such as a peptide therapy. Peptide therapies help to increase the body’s production of HGH without injecting more of the hormone itself. While these can be helpful to boost your HGH levels, they will also increase the cost of your therapy so that is something to consider.
Ipamorelin
Ipamorelin is a peptide that helps your body to make more natural HGH by signalling to the pituitary gland to make more HGH. Ipamorelin can be taken with or without HGH or other peptides, but when taken with it can enhance the effects even more. Typically, ipamorelin can cost a few hundred dollars per month, but can vary based on the same factors as for HGH.
Sermorelin
Sermorelin is another peptide therapy that can help to increase HGH by signalling the pituitary gland to produce HGH. Sermorelin therapy does this by stimulating growth hormone releasing hormone. This helps to provide the same benefits of HGH such as increased muscle mass, better sleep, and reduced body fat.
CJC 1295
CJC 1295 is another peptide that is less common than ipamorelin or sermorelin. It works by having a similar structure to growth hormone releasing hormone which is what tells the pituitary to release HGH. Just like any other adjunct therapy CJC 1295 will increase your cost of HGH treatment, so you will have to outweigh the cost with the benefits to determine if it is worth it for you.
Does Insurance Cover Human Growth Hormone Treatment?
If you have insurance that covers prescriptions you may be wondering if it will cover your HGH treatment. Since each insurance has different stipulations, it is unclear if your particular insurance will cover the medication. To learn more about your insurance policy you should reach out to your insurance provider.
However, since this is prescribed as medically necessary insurance commonly will cover HGH therapy. Also, because growth hormone deficiency is an accepted diagnosis that impacts many people, insurance companies are very likely to cover at least part of the medication.
Conclusion
The cost of human growth hormone treatment is not straightforward and is dependent on many variables. You can consider each of these factors to see which end of the spectrum your cost may land on.
However, the best way to determine the cost of your treatment is to make a consultation to discuss if you will be a good candidate for treatment and get a quote from a healthcare provider.
Having a straightforward understanding of the cost of treatment from your clinic will give you a better basis for planning if this is something you can afford. Also, knowing the medications you are prescribed will let you get information from your insurance provider about if they will cover the medication.
Elite HRT is here to help answer any questions you may have and help make a personalized plan for your HGH treatment.
Sources:
Definition of ipamorelin – NCI Drug Dictionary