The question of human growth hormone, also known as HGH, being called a performance enhancer has been around as long as the actual drug has. Just like steroids, there is a lot of debate about this drug.

Human growth hormone was designed for people who were born with deficiencies in height. It was designed and actively makes people taller. This drug stimulates cell growth within the body and synthesizes hormones that create even more cells. All of these cells being added together ensure growth.

Human growth hormone does work, in the sense that it makes short people taller. The drug has only been proven to increase height by a few inches. However, for someone who is abnormally height challenged this few inches can add a huge boost to their confidence and self-esteem. Human growth hormone also enhances calcium retention and strengthens bones, as well as increasing muscle mass, enhancing the growth of major organs, and stimulate the immune system. Just as there are many ways in which the human body is helped by this drug, there are many ways in which it is damaged.

Excesses of human growth hormone and the adverse side effects of the pill are numerous. Human growth hormone has been linked to an enlarged jaw bone and enlarged feet. Excesses of the pill can also cause a tumor-like growth in the brain, which can cause headaches and brain damage. Human growth hormone has been shown to increase the risk of diabetes and colon cancer. Prostate cancer was also linked to males who had taken growth hormone. Pituitary gigantism, in which the pituitary gland grows too big for any real use, is also a risk of an excess of growth hormone.

In the age of today, there are many ways in which growth hormone has been misused. It was originally designed to stimulate growth for people born with deficiencies. There are many doctors, however, prescribing the drug to minors who have no real need for the drug. Parents merely want their children to be taller. This is a recurring problem.

For the question of human growth hormone being considered a performance enhancing drug, the answer is up to the discretion of anybody. Human growth hormone has been tested and has not shown any improvement in the abilities or performance of male athletes. There are just as many, if not more, detriments as benefits of Human Growth Hormone.