Generally, no, you cannot start growth hormone therapy at 16.
Here's why:
Growth Plates and Hormone Therapy
Growth hormone therapy is most effective when administered before the growth plates in bones fuse. According to the provided reference, the growth plates usually fuse around 14 years old for girls and 16 years old for boys. This means that at 16, for many boys, the growth plates are already fused, making growth hormone therapy ineffective for increasing height.
Starting Age
- Growth hormone therapy can start earlier if a child has a diagnosed condition that indicates the need for it.
- However, once growth plates fuse, the ability to gain height through hormone therapy is typically lost.
Key Factors:
- Growth Plate Fusion: The fusion of growth plates determines the point when bones can no longer grow longer.
- Age of Initiation: Starting hormone therapy must be done before growth plates fuse to be effective.
- Individual Variation: While the average fusion is around 14 for girls and 16 for boys, there can be individual variation.
| Feature | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| Growth Plate Fuse | Around 14 years of age | Around 16 years of age |
| Hormone Therapy | Most effective before 14 | Most effective before 16 |
Therefore, while it might be possible if growth plates aren't yet fused, for a 16-year-old the answer is typically no as growth plates typically would be fused. The provided reference explicitly states, "growth hormone therapy can not be initiated after a child's growth plates fuse, which is around 14 in girls and 16 in boys."
