Hormone panel
SHBG
Also called Sex hormone-binding globulin · measured in nmol/L
What it measures
The concentration of the protein that binds sex hormones in circulation and controls how much is biologically available.
Why it is tracked
SHBG determines how much of your total testosterone is actually usable. A high SHBG can leave someone symptomatic despite a normal total; a low SHBG can do the reverse.
What a provider considers
- Raised by thyroid hormone excess, oestrogen and liver disease
- Lowered by insulin resistance, obesity and hypothyroidism
- Essential for interpreting total testosterone correctly
Reference ranges vary between laboratories and a single result rarely means much on its own. Interpretation depends on your symptoms, your other markers and the trend over time — which is what your provider reviews.