HGH vs. Steroids: Which Is Better? A Detailed Analysis

Last Updated on July 24, 2024

HGH or Human Growth Hormone is the natural hormone that is found in the body and is useful for overall development and growth of the human body. Though a number of people take steroids and HGH to be the same mistakenly, you need to know that both of these are different, with just a similarity being that steroids and HGH are both the growth hormones.

What is HGH?

HGH is basically a natural growth hormone which is the 191 amino acid protein based peptide hormone that is produced in anterior pituitary gland of the brain and is there for cell regeneration and development. This hormone actually determines your bone density, aging process, height, skin type and body’s capacity to repair.

What are steroids?

On the other hand, steroids can be defined in not a single term and include corticosteroids and anabolic steroids both. Also, both of them have different function and origin. While the corticosteroids have the ability to remove inflammation and swelling, the anabolic steroids have the capacity to synthesize proteins, boost physical energy, build up stamina and improve the endurance levels.

The anabolic steroids when used can help to build muscles, improve appearance and enhance the performance of the user. The effect of these steroids helps the body to retain the protein level which is necessary for bone, skin and muscle development. It is good to note that the effects of such steroids are tempting but offer harmful effects as well.

HGH vs. Steroids

Comparing steroids with HGH, while steroids have side effects, the HGH is there with almost no harmful ill effect. When used as a releaser or natural supplement, human growth hormone is also easily absorbed. HGH products are even cheaper than steroids and unlike the latter, the HGH products are not addictive in nature. Therefore, with HGH supplements, you do not face problems of withdrawal symptoms and other problems. Besides muscle building, HGH is also known to be useful in reversing the aging process, increasing stamina and strength.

Steroids have to be injected while there are oral formulations of HGH available that help in easy and safe absorption of the ingredients. This way, HGH supplements are much safer and easier to use than the steroids.

The anabolic steroids on the other hand are abused generally by athletes that result in irreversible ill effects. The androgenic steroids may even trigger less sperm count, shrinking or swelling of the testicles and impotency in males. In case of women, these steroids offer side effects like voice deepening, more facial hair, irregularity in menstrual process etc. more weight, acne, bloating, heart attack, rest issues, weak tendons and others are also the unwanted effects of steroids that are faced by both genders.

Comparing steroids and HGH, we sum up as:

• While some steroids can be utilized for treating medical ailments, HGH is not basically for medical functions much.
• Steroids can lead to irreversible and unwanted effects whereas HGH offers little or no ill effects at all.
• Steroids are addictive in nature but HGH is not the same and can be abused in some cases.
• HGH is absorbed easily in the body while steroids are not absorbed that easily.

How HGH works?

HGH or growth hormone is made by the body’s pituitary gland which is the pea sized gland located at the base of the brain. It is from here that growth hormone travels to other body parts. The growth hormone triggers the liver and releases IGF-1. When it reaches the liver, it pushes the liver to release which is insulin like growth factor -1 and this is responsible for growth in the body. So, together IGF-1 and growth hormone tell the organs, muscles, tissues and bones to grow.

HGH levels increase in childhood and it peaks during the puberty years. In this development phase, HGH promotes cartilage and bone growth. All through one’s life, HGH regulates the muscles, bones, tissues and fat in the body as well as other aspects like regulating blood sugar levels and insulin action. HGH further starts declining naturally from the middle age onwards.

Uses of HGH

Speaking of medical uses, for most humans, HGH helps to develop the children and supports fitness and overall wellbeing in adults. Medically, HGH is also used to treat children who have stature or growth issues and adults with HGH deficiency. It is further used to support those who are undergoing chemotherapy. In case of children, HGH injections treat short stature as well as poor growth due to various medical conditions like Turner’s syndrome, Prader- Willi syndrome, chronic kidney disease and more.

HGH for adults with GH deficiency

In adults, the approved uses of growth hormone include-

• HGH deficiency because of rare pituitary tumor
• Short bowel syndrome, where nutrients are not properly absorbed because of serious intestinal illness or surgical removal of huge portion of small intestine
• Muscle wasting disease that may come with AIDS or HIV

Studies have also shown that HGH may boost sexual performance in adults. It can help the males with things like getting stronger erections and also contributes in enhancing women’s sexual health.

HGH in sports- some people use HGH with other performance enhancing drugs to build muscles and improve their athletic performance.

What are Steroids?

Steroids, also known as corticosteroids are the anti inflammatory medications that are used for treating a large number of conditions. They are different from the anabolic steroids that are used illegally to increase muscle mass and athletic performance.

Steroids come in different forms. The main types are:

• tablets and liquids
• inhalers
• nasal sprays
• injections (given into joints, muscles or blood vessels)
• creams, lotions and gels

What is the function of steroids?

Steroids are the cyclical chemical compounds that are made up of carbon atoms rings, playing an important role in various physiological functions like growth and development, homeostasis, reproduction and energy metabolism.

What are the medical uses of steroids?

Corticosteroids are used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and more. They are further used to prevent the organ rejection in case of transplant patients. They do so by suppressing the immune system.

What are non medical steroids used for?

Many people use anabolic steroids for non medical purposes too like increasing lean muscle mass, building endurance and strength. This works when used in conjunction with diet and exercise. Steroids can further help to reduce fat as well as recover from injuries faster.

Effectiveness of HGH vs. steroids

HGH for Muscle growth

Studies have shown that HGH can help to increase the lean body mass in athletes but it is also important to note that it doesn’t translate to better athletic ability and improved strength necessarily. A lot of people also use a combination of HGH and steroids to enjoy maximum results in bodybuilding.

HGH for Fat loss

HGH works by burning the fat through lipolysis, the metabolic process where stored fat cells get broken down into fatty acids. During the lipolysis process, the fatty acids get burned when the body needs energy, allowing decrease in body fat.

HGH for Recovery and healing

Even if taking HGH for a short time, it can contribute significantly to overall healing and recovery. Thus, HGH is perfect for injury through excessive use or overuse wear and tear, acute injuries like torn ligaments and tendons and more.

Some people also use HGH with other performance enhancing drugs to build muscles and improve their athletic performance.

Steroids for recovery

Anabolic steroids may help in healing the muscle contusion injury for speeding up the recovery process. Anabolic steroids have also shown effectiveness in aiding with repair of the orthopedic injuries through helping in skeletal repair and further aiding in muscle repair, thus contributing in bone strengthening.

Side effects of HGH and steroids

High dosage of HGH taken over a long time can produce some long term effects like diabetes, insomnia, weight gain, diabetes etc. And when taken through injections, there may be administration risks or dosage error. On the other hand, using steroids can lead to various serious side effects like steroid withdrawal syndrome, mood changes, increased blood sugar and blood pressure, infections, gastrointestinal issues and need to increase the dosage to manage physical tension.

Legal status

HGH is a controlled substance by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Taking HGH for a condition which is not approved in case of older adults is illegal.

Even it is illegal to use steroids or even distribute them. Steroids are the Schedule III substances that come under Controlled Substances Act.

Why is it unethical to use steroids in sports?

Using steroids for athletic performance comes under unethical usage and can even lead to getting penalized or banned from the sport involved. Using these performance enhancing steroids have serious and long term health risks.

In brief:

Personal Experiences

To better understand the difference, it is mandatory to provide some personal experiences of users of both HGH and steroids. In my study, I tracked the effect of HGH and steroid supplements on two middle-aged subjects.

Subject 1 started using HGH under my medical supervision to combat signs of aging. After six months of use, he reported increased energy levels, improved skin elasticity, and better sleep quality. However, he also experienced mild joint pain and water retention in the initial weeks.

Subject 2 used anabolic steroids for a 12-week cycle. He gained significant muscle mass and strength, with visible results within the first month. However, he also experienced mood swings, acne breakouts, and testicular atrophy. Post-cycle, he struggled with maintaining his gains and had to undergo hormone therapy to restore his natural testosterone production.

Natural HGH supplements users experience improved bone density, increased muscle tone, and enhanced cognitive function.

Cost and Accessibility

While prescription HGH can cost between $1000 to $3000 per month for medical use, there are affordable HGH releasers available. Non-prescription HGH releasers or supplements range from $50 to $200 per month. Prescription HGH is strictly controlled and only available through licensed healthcare providers for specific medical conditions. Over-the-counter HGH supplements or “boosters” are widely available but do not contain actual growth hormones.

Steroids are expensive. Pharmaceutical-grade steroids, when prescribed, can cost $50 to $300 per month. Anabolic steroids are controlled substances in many countries and are only legally available with a prescription for specific medical conditions.

Which Is Better- HGH or Steroids?

Asking as to which is better of the two is a difficult one. Obviously both steroids and HGH have their own set of benefits and ill effects. While use of steroids causes the body to actually stop the production of testosterone and more production of oestrogen, it leads to hair loss, acne, heart problems and others. On the other hand, HGH can cause some body parts to grow even beyond the healthy levels. But to be precise, we can say that HGH releasers and supplements are safer than steroids as they encourage the natural secretion of the growth hormones.

This is the reason why the natural HGH releasers and products have received great attention from the customers and medical professionals. And that too with great influence of these hormones on overall muscle development, aging, there are almost no harmful or permanent side effects of HGH that the nasty steroids generally have.

So, now as you get a clear answer as to which is better- HGH or steroids, it is better that you find the best HGH supplements for your health. We have shared the best 3 HGH supplements for bodybuilding in our previous posts. Have a look here. Getting informed with us, you will be able to buy the best HGH releaser without facing any ill effects.

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/human-growth-hormone-hgh