SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOBULIN

Males : 

13 -71 nmol/L

Females ( Non Pregnant ) : 

18 -114 nmol/L

• SHBG is synthesized by liver cells and has a 7-day half life in circulation. In both sexes the SHBG concentration sharply increases just after birth and gradually declines until puberty. Male and female children have similar SHBG concentrations (ranging from 80 to 175 nmol/L) until the onset of puberty, when SHBG levels decrease more rapidly in males than in females.
• In pregnant women, the SHBG level increases from conception until about week 30, reaching concentrations 6 to 10 times higher than in non pregnant females. The circulating androgen concentration affects SHBG synthesis.
• Elevated testosterone causes SHBG synthesis to decrease, while high estrogen stimulates SHBG production. The regulation of SHBG synthesis, combined with SHBG's high affinity for testosterone compared to estrogen, results in SHBG effectively amplifying the estrogen Ievel. SHBG levels in late pregnancy or after estrogen adminstration may be especially elevated.
• Levels of testosterone and estradiol in circulation influence SHBG production.Because SHBG responds to circulating estrogen and testosterone levels, SHBG measurements can indicate a range of androgen abnormalities.
• SHBG is useful in the differential diagnosis of hirsutism and differential diagnosis of infertility. SHBG levels are also commonly measured as a supplement to total testosterone determinations. Used to evaluate men for low Testosterone and woman for excess testosterone production

• When the Testosterone levels do not seem to be consistent with clinical signs and symptoms, such as infertility, decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction in men and infertility, irregular menstrual periods , and excess facial and body hair in women.

• Hyperthyroidism
• Hepatic cirrhosis
• Pregnancy
• Administration of oral contraceptive
• Phenytoin drug administration
• Hypogonadism

• Hirsutism
• Acne vulgaris
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Modestly reduced in Hypothyroidism
• Acromegaly, Cushing's disease, Hyperprolactinemia
• Obesity
• Glucocorticoids and GH also have been observed to lower SHBG