SHBG hormone: what is it in women, the norm by age, reasons for deficiency and high levels

According to medical statistics, more sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is present in the female body than in the male body.

Let's take a closer look at what the SHBG hormone is in women and why it is needed.

An analysis to determine the level of globulin in women can be performed on any day of the menstrual cycle.

Before the analysis, you must prepare properly - eight hours before the test, do not consume any food, including juice, tea and coffee. The only thing you can take before the procedure is water.

SHBG hormone: what is it?

Sex hormone binding globulin is a special protein whose synthesis occurs in the liver.
The main function of this hormone is to ensure the binding and transport of biologically active substances that are produced in the gonads.

Experts also call this hormone “sex-binding globulin”, as well as testosterone estradiol-binding globulin.

The concentration of this hormone in the blood is directly related to the level of activity of the female and male gonads. So, with an increase in estrogen levels, the amount of protein increases. And as the concentration of androgens increases, its quantity decreases and activity decreases.

As a result of a decrease in estradiol in the female body, the content of sex hormone-binding globulin is equivalently reduced. However, when androgen levels decrease, the level of this protein, on the contrary, begins to increase.

The amount of globulin in the blood depends on the following factors:

• age and gender;
• functional activity of the endocrine system;
• the presence of certain concomitant diseases;
• morphological and functional state of the liver;
• functional activity of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands and pituitary gland;
• long-term therapy with hormonal drugs;
• obesity.

All of these conditions should be treated very carefully, since each of them may indicate a change in the concentration of the sex hormone binding globulin protein in the blood.

What influences the result of the analysis?

In medicine, the following reasons are identified that indicate an increase or decrease in globulin synthesis in the human body. These include:

• age category of the fair sex;
• in case of false results, it is necessary to undergo a repeat blood test;
• improper functioning of the thyroid gland. It, in turn, regulates all metabolic processes. Its malfunction is associated with an increase in SHBG levels;
• liver disease. They negatively affect the synthesis of derivative protein molecules in human blood. As a result of this, the patient has pronounced changes in the color of the skin and severe rashes on the face;
• excess fat mass.

All these changes directly affect the patient’s examination results. Proper preparation for testing allows you to avoid incorrect diagnosis.

Before starting a diagnostic study, it is recommended to stop taking any medications and hormonal contraceptives. The components in medications have a significant impact on the composition of the blood.

To determine the level of SHBG, venous blood is taken from the patient. A similar event is carried out on an empty stomach. A woman is recommended to reduce her physical activity 12 hours before. Fluid intake should be reduced to a minimum.

ATTENTION! Regular blood tests allow you to identify pathology at an early stage.

The need for analysis

There are several indications for testing the level of SHBG in the female body. They include:

• disruption of the natural menstrual cycle;
• development of hirsutism - male-pattern hair growth on the chest, abdomen and face;
• anovulatory cycle;
• polycystic ovary syndrome;
• the presence of diseases of the female reproductive system;
• lack of ability to become pregnant;
• severe gestosis after pregnancy;
• presence of thyroid pathology;
• development of hepatitis;
• seborrhea;
• acne;
• rapid hair loss;
• decreased sexual desire;
• early onset of menopause.

To conduct this study, blood serum is taken from a vein. Results are usually determined within one to two days.

How to prepare: recommendations

At the appointment, the woman should receive instructions so that the research data is reliable. An important point is to clarify the list of medications that the patient receives. You need to know: hormonal compounds affect the level of SHBG and other regulators. Taking oral contraceptives, glucocorticosteroids, androgens, and other categories of drugs with similar effects should be stopped within the period specified by the doctor, at least a week before the test.

Other preparation rules:

• food and liquid intake is allowed 810 hours before blood donation,
• the study must be carried out on an empty stomach,
• you cannot have sexual intercourse for 4872 hours to avoid sharp fluctuations in hormonal levels, testosterone and SHBG levels,
• In the morning before testing, you need to rest for up to 15 minutes: it is advisable to enter the laboratory in a calm state.

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Decoding indicators

Normal SHBG levels in women are from 18 to 114 nmol/l.
During pregnancy, these indicators vary. In the first trimester they range from 26 to 241 nmol/l, and in the second and third – from 85 to 491 nmol/l.

This fact should always be taken into account when deciphering the results of the analysis.

It is important to take into account that after 60 years of age the globulin content in the blood also increases.

The female sex hormone estradiol is also formed in men and affects many processes within the body.

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Preparing for the study

Studies of SHBG indicators are carried out in laboratory conditions.

The patient donates 10 ml of blood from a vein, always on an empty stomach:

• The day before you should not drink coffee, tea - only water, carefully avoid physical and emotional stress, as well as drink alcohol and smoke.
• A few days before the examination, patients should stop using medications containing hormones and abstain from sexual intercourse.

The result of the analysis is usually determined within a few days.

Competent specialists, when detecting a pathology of a patient’s hormonal system, usually test the amount of all hormones at once, and not just one in particular. This is necessary for more accurate detection of violations.

Important! A study for SHPG cannot be carried out after physiotherapy procedures, other tests, MRI, CT, fluorography and x-rays.

For a more complete analysis of SHBG indicators, it is necessary to conduct studies on the level of androgens (IST) in the patient’s blood.

If pathological indicators of globulin levels are detected, patients need urgent consultation with a specialist.

Attention! Only an endocrinologist, urologist-andrologist and gynecologist can prescribe adequate treatment to help normalize SHBG levels.

On what day of the cycle should women take a hormone test? They can be taken on days 3-7 of the cycle (follicular phase), if there is no strict direction from the doctor.

How to properly prepare for a blood test for hormones is described in the video:

Norm

The level of the hormone SHBG in the female body differs significantly at different age periods.

The following table will help you understand what indicators are normal from a medical point of view.

Deviations

Any deviations from the norm, upward or downward, may indicate the development of various pathologies.

If the indicator is below normal, this may be associated with the following diseases:

• nephrotic syndrome, which is a disruption of the natural functioning of the excretory system;
• diabetes;
• hyperandrogenism - increased levels of androgens in the blood;
• Cushing's disease;
• acromegaly;
• polycystic ovary syndrome;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• increased levels of prolactin in the blood.

If the SHBG hormone is elevated in women, this, in turn, may indicate:

• increased estrogen levels;
• hepatitis;
• hyperthyroid state.

A slight change in the level of globulin concentration does not always indicate pathologies in the body. In order to obtain an objective result, doctors must compare test results and the overall clinical picture.

Indications for analysis

The analysis is usually prescribed for:

• infertility;
• impotence or decreased libido;
• polycystic ovary syndrome (in women).

It is advisable to conduct studies of globulin indicators if there is a suspicion of a decreased level of androgens in men and, conversely, an increase in these indicators in women.

Fluctuations in hormone levels are often accompanied by unpleasant symptoms and cause the development of serious systemic diseases. Indications for studying protein concentration in the blood.

Among women:

• increase or decrease in androgen levels with normal testosterone levels;
• with hormonal therapy;
• for disorders of puberty in adolescence;
• with signs of baldness, the appearance of acne and oily seborrhea.

Therapy methods

If any abnormalities are found as a result of tests for the level of the SHBG hormone, it is imperative to seek professional medical advice. In each specific situation, an experienced doctor will select the optimal therapeutic method.

If the level of sex hormone binding globulin increases, medications are prescribed that help reduce it.

As a rule, these are synthetic corticosteroid hormones, presented in the form of tablets or injection solutions.

Simultaneously with the decrease in SHBG levels, treatment is carried out for concomitant diseases, the development of which caused an increase in the level of this protein in the blood.

If SHBG levels are low, the use of statins is recommended, the dosage of which is determined on an individual basis.

In addition, if SHBG levels are abnormal, doctors recommend maintaining optimal levels of the main female hormones - estrogens.

In order to reduce production, the following medications are prescribed:

• Exemestane;
• Anastrozole;
• Proviron.

In order to increase production, the following medications are prescribed:

• Clomiphene;
• Toremifene.

In some cases, tranquilizers, antidepressants and beta blockers may be prescribed as additional medications.

At the same time, you can take natural herbal remedies:

• oregano decoctions;
• motherwort;
• sage;
• St. John's wort;
• horsetail;
• plantain;
• elecampane.

To prevent hormonal abnormalities, women should avoid stressful situations, give up bad habits, monitor the menstrual cycle, ensure adequate nutrition, and normalize work and rest schedules.

Globulin that binds sex hormones should always be normal, since the state of a woman’s hormonal levels depends on it.

A special analysis will help determine any deviations, and based on its results, the optimal treatment option will be prescribed. In women, the concentration of SHBG is mainly related to the content of estrogen, so these important sex hormones must always be kept under control.

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Sex-binding globulin. hormones in women: when to get tested

First, you need to talk about what specific role globulin plays in the human body. There are four of them, but they are all very important. So they are as follows:

1. Binds sex hormones, as well as medications and other substances.
2. Globulin transports vitamins and other substances throughout the human body.
3. Acts as a protector of the body from infections, toxins, foreign proteins, etc.
4. Responsible for blood clotting.

As can be seen from the list, tying is gender. hormones is not the only task that globulin protein performs. The functioning of many body functions directly depends on this protein. If any deviations from a given norm occur, disturbances in the functioning of not only the reproductive system are noted.

In order to find out the exact content of globulin in the blood, it is necessary to pass all tests. Mostly women take them on the days of their menstrual cycle. It is worth remembering that if you want to get tested for globulin levels, you must first consult with your doctor. The referral for tests is given by the attending physician. The woman's blood is taken from a vein.

Sex hormone binding globulin is a molecule that is made up of carbohydrates and protein and is produced primarily in the liver. It binds three sex hormones found in women: estrogen, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone. The hormone's job is to transport these hormones through the blood to other tissues.

Testosterone and other hormones play an important role in a woman's overall physical and emotional health. SHBG ensures that hormones are distributed throughout the body and are available to the tissues that need them. Optimal globulin levels reduce a woman's risk of developing polycystic ovary syndrome, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

As a rule, an appointment for a test to determine the level of sex hormone binding globulin is rare. The presence of pathologies is mainly determined by testosterone. In this case, SHBG carries virtually no load. However, there are also situations when the determination of this substance in the blood of men is simply necessary.

Doctors strongly recommend undergoing this test for men who have the first signs of problems with the reproductive system, there is a decrease in libido, and there are also problems with conceiving children.

Also, blood plasma protein SHBG (determining its level in the blood) is prescribed when the level of testosterone in the male body is within normal limits, but various disorders are present.

External abnormalities include acne, chronic inflammatory processes of the prostate, obesity, breast growth, decreased muscle mass, etc. All these symptoms, as a rule, indicate hormonal disorders.