What published studies of sermorelin show about results in adults, and what they do not. No photos and no promised outcomes.
No one can promise a sermorelin before and after result, and we do not show photos. Published studies of sermorelin-type drugs in adults found that growth hormone rose at night, but changes in body composition were small, mixed, or absent, and the studies were small and old. This guide explains what the research does and does not show, so you can set realistic expectations before you talk to a physician.
This article is general information, not medical advice or a dose recommendation. A physician decides whether sermorelin is right for you.
What does a sermorelin before and after really look like?
That depends on the person, and the research does not give a reliable answer. Sermorelin is a version of the first 29 amino acids of growth hormone-releasing hormone, which signals the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. The studies below measured what happens to growth hormone and related markers. Fewer measured body shape, and the ones that did found little. We do not publish before and after photos, because a photo cannot show diet, sleep, exercise, time or lighting, and it is not evidence of what a medicine did.
What do the studies actually show?
We looked for human studies of sermorelin and closely related drugs. These are the ones we could verify on PubMed, and what each reported.
| Study | Who and how long | What was reported |
|---|---|---|
| Vittone and colleagues, 1997 | 11 healthy men aged 64 to 76 with low IGF-I, nightly injections of GHRH (1-29) for 6 weeks | Nighttime growth hormone release rose. Two of six muscle-strength measures and one endurance test improved. Weight, BMI, and DEXA measures of muscle and fat did not change. |
| Khorram and colleagues, 1997 | 10 women and 9 men aged 55 to 71, placebo-controlled, a GHRH (1-29) analog for 16 weeks | Growth hormone and IGF-I rose. Lean body mass increased in men only. Skin thickness increased in both sexes. Sleep quality was unaffected. A temporary rise in blood lipids was the only side effect reported. |
| Sigalos and colleagues, 2017 | 14 men on testosterone therapy (average age 33), a retrospective record review of a combination of GHRP-6, GHRP-2 and sermorelin, average 134 days | IGF-1 rose from an average of 159.5 to 239.0 ng/mL. Because three drugs were given together, the effect of sermorelin alone cannot be separated. Body composition was not reported. |
The Khorram study used [Nle27]GHRH-(1-29)-NH2, a sermorelin-like analog, not sermorelin itself.
Notice what is missing. Two of the three studies are almost 30 years old, all are small, and the one that was placebo-controlled used an analog rather than sermorelin.
What does the research not show?
We did not find a sermorelin-only, placebo-controlled trial in adults that reports body-composition numbers. Recent reviews are cautious too. A 2026 review in Frontiers in Endocrinology lists sermorelin among growth hormone-axis peptides and points to uncertainty about their performance and body-recomposition benefits, and a 2026 review in Sports Medicine says rigorous human safety data are scarce for many unapproved peptides.
That is why this guide does not give a timeline like “week 2 you will sleep better, month 3 you will lose fat.” The studies above covered roughly 6 weeks to 4 months of treatment, and none of them supports a week-by-week promise.
Why might results differ from person to person?
The research gives a few hints, none of them a prediction for you. In the Khorram study, lean mass and insulin sensitivity improved in men but not in women. The Vittone study enrolled older men with low IGF-I, and the Sigalos review looked at younger men on testosterone, so the groups were very different. Age, sex, baseline hormone levels, other medicines, diet and exercise can all change what you see, and a physician checks bloodwork before deciding whether sermorelin is appropriate.
Is sermorelin FDA-approved?
Not today. The brand-name product, Geref, was approved in 1990 as a diagnostic test and in 1997 as vials for children with growth failure from low growth hormone, and FDA withdrew approval of both products effective 18 June 2009, according to an FDA notice in the Federal Register. FDA found they were not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. A DailyMed search on 3 November 2026 returned no sermorelin labels. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, and FDA says it does not verify their safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed. Our article on whether sermorelin is FDA-approved explains the history in more detail.
What should you ask before starting sermorelin?
- What result am I hoping for, and what evidence supports it in adults like me?
- Is the product FDA-approved or compounded, and which pharmacy makes it?
- What bloodwork do you want first, and how will we check progress?
- Do I have a history of cancer, pituitary problems or diabetes that you need to know about?
- What would make us stop?
To see how the clinic approaches it, read our sermorelin guide and the peptide therapy overview. For comparisons, see ipamorelin vs sermorelin, sermorelin vs tesamorelin and whether sermorelin comes as a tablet or pill. To get started in Miami, see sermorelin near me.
Frequently asked questions
What results can I expect from sermorelin?
No result can be promised. In small, older studies, nighttime growth hormone rose, and body-composition changes were small or limited to some groups, such as lean mass rising in men only in one study.
How long does sermorelin take to work?
The studies we found lasted from 6 weeks to about 4 months and did not establish a timeline for body changes. Individual responses differ, so ask your physician how progress would be measured.
Does sermorelin build muscle or burn fat?
The evidence is mixed. One study found lean mass rose in men only. Another found no change in weight, BMI or DEXA measures of muscle and fat after 6 weeks.
Does sermorelin work differently in men and women?
One placebo-controlled study of a sermorelin-like analog found lean mass and insulin sensitivity improved in men but not in women. Larger studies would be needed to say more.
Is sermorelin FDA-approved?
No. FDA withdrew approval of the brand-name Geref products effective 18 June 2009. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved.
Do I need a prescription and bloodwork for sermorelin?
Yes. At HCG Near Me a physician reviews your intake form and bloodwork before deciding whether it is appropriate.
Sources
- Vittone et al., Metabolism 1997 (PubMed)
- Khorram et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997 (PubMed)
- Sigalos et al., Am J Mens Health 2017 (PubMed)
- Dominikowski et al., Front Endocrinol 2026 (PubMed)
- Mendias and Awan, Sports Med 2026 (PubMed)
- FDA notice on Geref (Federal Register)
- FDA: Compounding and the FDA, questions and answers
Next step
To find out whether sermorelin is right for you, start the free intake form. A physician reviews it, and the team contacts you to schedule your free appointment.