Adding a growth hormone peptide to testosterone therapy is a common combination for men, and there are good reasons for it. This page explains the rationale — what growth hormone peptides do, how they relate to testosterone, and how we go about adding them.
Reviewed by Dr. David Oliak, board-certified surgeon
Updated August 2026
Testosterone and growth hormone are different hormones with different jobs, though they overlap in areas men care about — energy, body composition, recovery. Both decline with age.
Because they are separate, addressing one does not address the other. Men typically start with testosterone, since low testosterone tends to drive the most noticeable symptoms, and then look at the growth hormone side once testosterone is doing its job. A growth hormone peptide is how that second part is addressed.
Sermorelin and tesamorelin prompt the pituitary to release the body's own growth hormone, which raises IGF-1. This is a more physiologic approach than injecting synthetic growth hormone directly.
Men use them mainly for recovery, body composition, and sleep, and many describe feeling better in those areas. Tesamorelin in particular has clinical data behind it; the growth hormone peptide pages cover what the evidence does and does not establish.
We add growth hormone peptides after looking at a man's growth hormone status, including an IGF-1 level, and we follow IGF-1 over time. Sermorelin and tesamorelin are the two we use; how they differ, and which suits whom, is covered on the growth hormone peptide pages.
For a man already doing well on testosterone, a growth hormone peptide is often a worthwhile next step. Testosterone and growth hormone both fall with age and do different things, so optimizing one and then the other is a sensible order.
We use sermorelin and tesamorelin, follow IGF-1 to guide them, and add them when a man's goals and labs support it.
— Dr. David Oliak, board-certified physician and surgeon
Let's begin
If you are on testosterone and want to address the growth hormone side, the next step is a comprehensive evaluation, including IGF-1. To speak with us first, call 714-671-2005.
Growth hormone peptides: sermorelin, tesamorelin, and IGF-1
Tesamorelin vs. sermorelin
The Comprehensive Evaluation
Signs of low testosterone: how to tell
Yes, many men do. They address the growth hormone side, which testosterone does not. They are used mainly for recovery, body composition, and sleep. We add them after looking at your growth hormone status, including IGF-1.
They prompt the pituitary to release your own growth hormone, which raises IGF-1 — a more physiologic approach than synthetic growth hormone. They differ in potency and use, covered on the growth hormone peptide pages.
Low testosterone usually drives the most noticeable symptoms, so it is the natural place to start. Once testosterone is doing its job, the growth hormone side can be addressed on its own terms.
Men use growth hormone peptides mainly for recovery, body composition, and sleep, and often for how they feel in those areas. Tesamorelin in particular has clinical data behind it; the growth hormone peptide pages cover the specifics.
