Is Your Child Too Short for Their Age? Children Growth Clinic in California

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is a bioidentical version of the hormone naturally produced by the pituitary gland. It directly replaces growth hormone in children who are deficient.

Sermorelin is different — it is a growth hormone stimulating therapy. Instead of replacing hormone, it signals the child’s pituitary gland to produce its own natural growth hormone.

Key difference:

• HGH = hormone replacement

• Sermorelin = hormone stimulation

Because Sermorelin works with the body’s normal feedback system, some providers use it in children with low-normal levels, while HGH is typically reserved for confirmed deficiency.

A child may be evaluated for therapy if they have:

• Height below the 3rd–5th percentile for age

• Falling off their growth curve

• Delayed bone age on X-ray

• Low IGF-1 levels

• Poor growth velocity (less than ~2 inches/year before puberty)

Diagnosis typically involves:

1. Growth chart review

2. Blood testing

3. Bone age X-ray

4. Sometimes a stimulation test

Treatment is only considered after medical evaluation confirms a growth disorder or functional deficiency.

HGH (somatropin) remains the gold standard for growth hormone treatment and has substantially more long-term research demonstrating increased growth and improved final adult height in appropriately selected children. HGH products used for pediatric growth disorders are FDA-approved medications for specific indications.

Sermorelin works differently by stimulating the pituitary gland to release the child’s own growth hormone. While available research supports its ability to increase growth hormone secretion and growth velocity, there is currently much less evidence demonstrating an increase in final adult height compared with HGH.

Because HGH treatment can be expensive, we offer compounded sermorelin as a lower-cost alternative for appropriately selected families when cost is a significant concern to give options when nothing else is available. In our clinical experience, some children who respond well to sermorelin demonstrate encouraging improvements in growth velocity. However, individual results vary, and treatment should be selected and monitored based on the child’s diagnosis, growth pattern, bone age, laboratory findings, and remaining growth potential.

Earlier treatment generally produces better outcomes because growth plates are still open.

Most children start therapy between 5–14 years old, but the most important factor is bone age, not chronological age.

Once growth plates close (late puberty), height gain is no longer possible — which is why early assessment is important if parents notice slow growth.

Results vary depending on genetics and timing of treatment.

Typical outcomes when started before puberty:

• 2–4 additional inches above predicted adult height

• Faster yearly growth rate

• Improved growth percentile over time

Children treated earlier and consistently monitored tend to see the best response.

*results vary by patient and not all outcomes are the same. An initial consult can better help outline your childs potential outcomes.

When prescribed and monitored by a medical provider, growth hormone therapies have been used in pediatrics for decades.

Monitoring usually includes:

• Periodic lab testing

• Growth tracking

• Dose adjustments

• Screening for side effects

Most side effects are mild and reversible when dosing is properly managed.

Not all short children need treatment.

Constitutional Growth Delay

• Late bloomers

• Delayed puberty

• Often catch up naturally

Genetic Short Stature

• Growth matches parents’ height

• Normal labs

• Normal growth velocity

Growth Hormone Deficiency

• Poor growth velocity

• Delayed bone age

• Abnormal labs

A proper evaluation helps determine whether reassurance, monitoring, or therapy is appropriate.

At our clinic we charge $400/month for management which includes monthly checking, follow-ups and lab reviews as necessary.

Somatropin or growth hormone typically ranges $750-2500/month for medications (price varies by patient and dosing actually required).

Sermorelin ranges from $150-400/month (price varies by patient and dosing actually required).