What Is the Difference Between Human Growth Hormone and Testosterone?

Human growth hormone and testosterone are both anabolic substances commonly used by bodybuilders to gain muscle mass. They also both have legitimate medical uses, but they are more commonly known for their use as bodybuilding supplements. Although both human growth hormone and testosterone are used for the same purpose, they are in fact very different substances.

Testosterone is produced naturally by both males and females, although males produce much more testosterone than females do. The form used by bodybuilders is synthetic testosterone and is produced in a lab. Testosterone causes the body to produce more muscle and decrease body fat, which makes it ideal for bodybuilders. It is usually used alongside other anabolic steroids by bodybuilders because they are more effective when used together.

Bodybuilders almost always use testosterone in cycles. This is because testosterone will shut down the body's natural testosterone production; cycling the testosterone will prevent permanent shutdown. A typical testosterone cycle for a bodybuilder consists of about eight weeks of testosterone followed by four weeks of post-cycle therapy. Testosterone is available in patches, creams, pills, and through injections, but bodybuilders almost always inject testosterone. It is most bioavailable through injecting, and most testosterone compounds need to be injected only one to two times a week.

Human growth hormone is also produced naturally by the human body. It is produced by the pituitary gland to control growth during childhood. Bodybuilders use a synthetic form of human growth hormone produced in labs. It is commonly used by bodybuilders because it promotes lean muscle mass gain and can heal damaged tissues. Human growth hormone will cause organs and bones to grow if used in doses that are too high, which deters many people from using it.

Bodybuilders will usually cycle human growth hormone for a period of six to eight weeks, with injections five to seven times a week. During this time, bodybuilders can expect to gain large amounts of muscle mass and strength while gaining minimal fat. It is common to gain 10 to 20 pounds of muscle while on a human growth hormone cycle.

Both human growth hormone and testosterone are effective muscle builders, but testosterone is more commonly used for a number of reasons. It is generally considered much safer than human growth hormone, and has fewer negative side effects. It is also significantly cheaper than human growth hormone. Some bodybuilders will use human growth hormone and testosterone at the same time, but that practice can be very dangerous. Human growth hormone and testosterone are both illegal to possess in the United States without a valid prescription.