Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)

Why test for Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)

An SHBG test is most often used to find out how much testosterone is going to the body's tissues. Testosterone levels can be measured in a separate test called total testosterone. This test shows how much testosterone is in the body, but not how much is being used by the body.

Sometimes a total testosterone test is enough to make a diagnosis. But some people have symptoms of too much or too little of the hormone that the total testosterone test results can't explain. In these cases, an SHBG test may be ordered to provide more information about how much testosterone is available to the body.

You may need this test if you have symptoms of abnormal testosterone levels, especially if a total testosterone test can't explain your symptoms. For men, it's mostly ordered if there are symptoms of low testosterone levels. For women, it's mostly ordered if there are symptoms of high testosterone levels.

Symptoms of low testosterone levels in men include:

• Low sex drive
• Difficulty getting an erection
• Fertility problems

Symptoms of high testosterone levels in women include:

• Excess body and facial hair growth
• Deepening of voice
• Menstrual irregularities
• Acne
• Weight gain
• Fertility problems

source: https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/shbg-blood-test/