Sex hormone binding globulin, SHBG for short, is a critical protein that transports hormones through the blood. It regulates sex hormone levels, primarily estrogen and testosterone.
If your hormones are out of balance, or if you have PCOS, insulin resistance, or liver disease, ask your doctor to check your SHBG levels. When SHBG levels are too high or too low, it impacts your hormones and health.
WHAT IS SHBG (SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOBULIN)?
SHBG is an essential protein made by the liver. Its primary role is to transport steroid hormones, including:
-Estradiol – the most abundant form of estrogen in a woman who is cycling
-Testosterone – the primary androgen found in men and women
-DHT (dihydrotestosterone) – a more potent form of testosterone, found in both men and women. It’s linked to male pattern baldness.
When these hormones are bound to SHBG, they can’t bind to cells and have an effect. Sex hormones need to be unbound and free in the blood to exert their effects. In this way, SHBG helps regulate hormone levels.
Visit our blog at www.TheForkClnic.com/blog to read Part 1 of this article: Causes and Symptoms For Elevated SHBG and TBG Levels. #hormones #SHBG #TBG #liver #PCOS #Insulinresistance #liverdisease #functionalmedicine #Franklintn