Hormones
SHBG
The protein that binds sex hormones in the blood and controls how much of them is free to act.
Unit nmol/LTypical adult range 17.33–71.5 nmol/L
What it is
The protein that binds sex hormones in the blood and controls how much of them is free to act.
Why it matters
It is what makes a total testosterone or oestradiol readable: the same total means different things at different SHBG levels.
Reading the number
It moves in the opposite direction to insulin resistance, so a low SHBG is often a metabolic finding rather than a hormonal one. Thyroid hormone, oestrogen and liver disease all raise it.
What moves it
insulin resistancethyroid functionoestrogen and oral contraceptivesliver functionage
When to raise it
Worth reading with the sex hormones rather than on its own.
Also known as
On a report in another language.
A lab report names this analyte in its own language. Vitals Vault recognises each of these and files them all under SHBG.
Globulina Ligada às Hormonas Sexuais (SHBG)SHBG BasalSexualhormonbindendes Globulin
Catalog entry last updated 2026-08-28. Browse all 165 metrics.