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Sermorelin & Men’s Health
5 min read
Updated Oct 28, 2026.
The research on sermorelin in women is small. Two 6-month studies in healthy women and men over 60. In them, oral estrogen changed the result.
Below: what those studies measured, what they never looked at, the side effects, and what to tell a clinician.
The short answer
In women not taking estrogen, nightly sermorelin raised IGF-1 about 23%. Small groups, so treat that as a starting point.¹
In women taking oral estrogen, IGF-1 did not rise significantly.¹
Side effects were mostly mild fluid retention.¹
No study we found tested sermorelin in women in their 40s, in perimenopause, or for menopause symptoms.
The studies that included women
Sermorelin is a copy of the first 29 building blocks of GHRH, the signal your brain uses to ask the pituitary for growth hormone. The research below used that same 29-unit molecule, given as a nightly injection under the skin.
Merriam and colleagues ran two 6-month studies in healthy older adults.¹ An earlier report from the same team counted 15 women not on estrogen and 11 women on oral estrogen, alongside 21 men.² Those are small numbers.
Group | IGF-1 change on sermorelin |
|---|---|
Men | Up about 30% |
Women not on estrogen | Up about 23% |
Women on oral estrogen | No significant rise |
IGF-1 is the blood marker growth hormone drives. It's the number studies use to tell if the signal is getting through.
The women on oral estrogen had the biggest rise in growth hormone itself. It just didn't carry through to IGF-1.¹
Why oral estrogen mattered
Estrogen taken by mouth passes through the liver first. The liver is where most IGF-1 is made, and oral estrogen appears to hold its output down.³
A small 1991 study in postmenopausal women (7 per group) compared two routes.³ An estrogen pill raised growth hormone but lowered IGF-1. An estrogen patch brought IGF-1 up to levels close to those of premenopausal women, and left growth hormone alone.
So the route seems to matter, along with whether you take estrogen. That study didn't use sermorelin, and we found no study of sermorelin with a patch or gel.
What the studies measured, and what they didn't
Measured, in older adults, over 6 months:¹
Measure | What they saw |
|---|---|
IGF-1 | Rose, except in women on oral estrogen |
Body fat | Down 5 to 8% on average, mostly belly fat. Smaller effect in women on estrogen. |
Physical function | Some measures held steady in women not on estrogen, while the placebo group declined |
Thinking speed | Looked better. The authors called it preliminary. |
Sleep | No improvement. The authors pointed to the short-acting form used. |
Not measured, or not that we found:
Women in their 40s or 50s. Participants were over 60.²
Perimenopause or hot flashes
Sermorelin with a patch, gel or ring
Tablets. These studies used injections.
Anything past 6 months
Results vary, and no study promises any one result for you.
Side effects
In the 6-month studies, side effects were mostly fluid retention, generally mild.¹ An earlier report from the same team also noted a few injection site reactions.⁴
Across sermorelin use, the most common side effect is pain, redness or swelling where you inject. Less common: flushing, headache, dizziness, sleepiness and hives. Trouble breathing or a swollen face or throat means urgent care.
Full list: Sermorelin side effects: an honest list.
Sermorelin isn't prescribed during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or with active or hormone-sensitive cancer. That includes a history of hormone-sensitive breast cancer, so put it on the intake.
What to tell your clinician first
Your intake asks about these. The estrogen findings are why the first two matter.
Any estrogen, and its form: pill, patch, gel, spray or ring
Birth control pills, many of which contain estrogen, and progesterone
Thyroid medicine or a thyroid condition
Diabetes or blood sugar medicine
Any cancer history, including breast
Pregnancy plans, or a chance you could be pregnant
Also list every supplement. Your clinician reads it all before anything is prescribed.
Tablets or injections
Sommar offers both. The studies above used nightly injections, so that's the form with the most data. Tablets are once a day, no needles, and less studied. You can switch later.
How to start
2-minute online quiz. A clinician reviews it. Prescribed only if appropriate.
Injections are $175 a month. Your first month is $119 with code FIRST40. Every 3 months is $447 ($149 a month). Every 6 months is $798 ($133 a month). Price includes medication, clinician care, supplies and free shipping. The online visit is free, and you pay nothing unless approved. FSA and HSA accepted. Cancel anytime.
More: sermorelin, prescribed online · What is sermorelin? A simple guide · sermorelin + NAD+
FAQ
Does sermorelin help with menopause symptoms? We found no study that tested it for hot flashes, night sweats or other menopause symptoms. It isn't a replacement for hormone therapy.
Can I take sermorelin while on HRT? Women on oral estrogen were in the studies, and their IGF-1 didn't rise significantly.¹ Your clinician decides if it fits, and the form of estrogen you use is part of that.
Is sermorelin safe for women over 40? The studies were small, ran 6 months and enrolled women over 60. Side effects were mostly mild fluid retention.¹ Long-term data is limited, so a clinician checks in while you're on it.
Is sermorelin the same as HGH? No. Sermorelin signals your pituitary to release your own growth hormone. HGH is the hormone itself.
Is sermorelin FDA-approved? Not in the form prescribed today. A brand version was approved in the US and later discontinued, and FDA found it was not withdrawn for safety or effectiveness reasons.⁵ Today it's compounded by licensed US pharmacies with a prescription. Compounded sermorelin is not FDA-approved.
Sources
Merriam GR, et al. Growth hormone releasing hormone treatment in normal aging. J Anti-Aging Med. 2001;4(4):331-343.
Newswise. Estrogen therapy may undercut growth hormone production. Report of Merriam GR, Vitiello MV, Schwartz RS, et al., presented at ENDO 2000, the Endocrine Society's 82nd Annual Meeting, June 23, 2000.
Weissberger AJ, Ho KK, Lazarus L. Contrasting effects of oral and transdermal routes of estrogen replacement therapy on 24-hour growth hormone (GH) secretion, insulin-like growth factor I, and GH-binding protein in postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1991;72(2):374-381.
University of Washington News. Stimulating growth hormone production in older adults can reduce body fat and increase hormone levels to those of younger adults. June 12, 1999.
US Food and Drug Administration. Determination that sermorelin acetate injection products were not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. Federal Register, FR Doc. 2013-04827, March 4, 2013.
Prescription required. Compounded sermorelin is not FDA-approved. A licensed clinician decides if treatment is right for you. Individual results vary. Medical services provided by Wasef Health, PC.
