Growth hormone treatment in adults: is there a true gender difference?

The importance of growth hormone (GH) deficiency in adults became evident at the end of the 1980s, when the first clinical studies on GH replacement therapy in adults were published. Since then, accumulated experience has shown a great individual variability in the response to GH replacement, including a potential difference in responsiveness between genders. The aim of this paper is to review the data regarding the effects of gender differences on GH pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy of replacement. In addition, we start with a short review of the possible role of GH in sexual development and sexual life.