What IGF-1 Really Reflects
IGF-1, or insulin-like growth factor 1, is a hormone influenced by growth hormone. It plays a role in tissue repair, muscle maintenance, metabolism, and overall recovery. Because it is easier to measure than growth hormone itself, it is often used as a proxy marker.
On paper, it seems straightforward. A low IGF-1 level means you need more support. Normal IGF-1 means everything is working. But the body is not that simple.
IGF-1 levels fluctuate throughout the day. They are influenced by sleep, stress, caloric intake, inflammation, and liver function. A single lab value captures only one moment in a much larger biological rhythm. More importantly, total IGF-1 does not tell us how well your cells are responding to it.
The Nervous System Changes the Equation
In motherhood, the nervous system often shifts into long-term survival mode. Sleep disruption, chronic mental load, postpartum hormonal changes, and ongoing stress alter how the body prioritizes resources. When the body feels under prolonged demand, it conserves energy. Repair, growth, and muscle maintenance may move lower on the priority list. This is not dysfunction. It is an adaptation.
Research over the past decade has shown that receptor sensitivity matters as much as circulating hormone levels. As we age, and particularly during times of chronic stress, growth hormone and IGF-1 signaling can become less efficient at the tissue level. The number on your lab report may appear normal, but the signal may not be landing the same way it once did.
Think of it like an orchestra. Growth hormone is one instrument. IGF-1 is another. But the nervous system is the conductor. If the conductor is overwhelmed, the music does not flow smoothly, even if all the instruments are present. This is why focusing on one lab value rarely gives the full picture.
What Symptoms Often Tell Us
Instead of asking only what your IGF-1 number says, it is more helpful to ask what your body is experiencing. Some questions to ask yourself include:
- Are you recovering more slowly from workouts or minor injuries?
- Does strength feel harder to maintain, even with consistent effort?
- Are you noticing changes in body composition that do not match your habits?
- Is your sleep lighter, less restorative, or fragmented?
- Do you feel like your energy never fully replenishes?
- Has brain fog become more common?
These symptoms are not proof that something is wrong with you. They are signals. Growth hormone and IGF-1 play a role in tissue repair, metabolic flexibility, and sleep architecture. But they do not operate independently. They are deeply influenced by nervous system state, insulin sensitivity, thyroid health, and overall stress load. In other words, the system matters more than the number.
Why “Normal” Labs Can Still Feel Off
One of the most common misconceptions is that if a lab value falls within range, it cannot be contributing to how you feel. But laboratory reference ranges are broad. They reflect population averages, not optimal functioning for your unique physiology. We also know that growth hormone secretion happens in pulses, particularly during deep sleep. Chronic sleep disruption, which is common postpartum and in perimenopause, can blunt these pulses even if IGF-1 levels remain technically normal.
Recent research also highlights the connection between insulin resistance and growth hormone signaling. When blood sugar regulation is strained, which often happens under chronic stress, growth hormone effectiveness can decline. Again, this may not immediately show up as an abnormal IGF-1 value. Your body can be under-supported even when labs look acceptable. This is not about chasing higher numbers. It is about restoring responsiveness.
A Critical Reframe
If you have been told that your labs are fine and therefore nothing is wrong, it can create self-doubt. You may wonder if you are exaggerating. If you just need to push harder. If this is simply what motherhood feels like. It is not a motivation problem.
Your body is responding exactly as it was designed to under prolonged demand. If growth, repair, and recovery feel slower, that may reflect a system that has been prioritizing survival and caregiving for a long time. Understanding this removes shame. It shifts the focus from willpower to biology.
What Matters More Than a Single Lab Value
Tracking symptoms alongside labs provides a clearer picture than numbers alone.
Supporting sleep quality.
Improving nervous system regulation.
Stabilizing blood sugar.
Addressing hormonal transitions thoughtfully.
These foundational pieces often improve growth hormone signaling more effectively than chasing a specific IGF-1 target. When peptides are used, their effectiveness depends heavily on this foundation. They amplify signals that already exist. If the system underneath is depleted or dysregulated, results may feel subtle. Support works best when the body feels safe enough to respond.
How Revive Approaches Growth Hormone Support
At Revive With Me, we understand that lab work is only one piece of the story. If you have been told your IGF-1 levels are “normal” but you still feel exhausted, slower to recover, or not quite like yourself, your experience deserves to be taken seriously.
Our approach looks beyond a single number. We consider your symptoms, sleep patterns, stress load, hormonal transitions, and nervous system state. Growth hormone peptides, when appropriate, are introduced within that larger biological context, not as shortcuts, but as tools that may support repair and resilience when the foundation is in place. Support begins with understanding how your body has adapted and what it needs now. If you are ready to explore what that could look like for you, a conversation is a thoughtful first step. There is no pressure to commit to anything. The goal is clarity, not force.
You do not have to rely on lab values alone to determine how you feel. Support starts with being heard.