The disease is common in post-menopausal women but can occur in men too. Bones can fracture with even minor stress, or break spontaneously. The most effective treatment of osteoporosis has been to prevent it during childhood. This doesn’t help people the disease. A 10 – year study by Swedish researchers found that Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy reduced fractures by 50%, compared to untreated women. Women who did not receive HGH experienced more fractures. HGH treated women continued to have fewer fractures, even after treatment stopped.