SHBG (hormone) in women, in men. Sex hormone-connecting globulin: function, norm, and pathology

Hormonal balance is very important for any human body. It is hormones that regulate almost all life processes. Deviation from the norm greatly affects human health. SHBG (hormone) is equally important. It is necessary for both men and women. Only depending on gender, its level and value are different.

What is SHBG?

SHBG stands for sex hormone binding globulin . This substance binds to testosterone, which enters the bloodstream. It is worth noting that the substance itself is a protein, and its combination with testosterone is called "synthesis of SHBG". The production of globulin occurs by the liver tissue. With age, processes slow down.

It is believed that this hormone affects the male body more than the female. The fact is that with its increase, the level of estrogen (female hormone) increases significantly . And if a woman does not immediately notice abnormalities in her body, then in men with a strong increase, the breast increases, and adipose tissue begins to be distributed according to the female type.

Why is there a deviation in the body? This question cannot be answered for sure. The increase and decrease in the level of SHBG is due to various pathologies.

The rate of hormone in the male and female body

The content of any substance in the human body directly depends on the gender and age of the patient. SHBG - a plasma protein - is no exception.

When do men need to take an analysis to determine the level of SHBG?

As a rule, the appointment for an analysis to determine the level of sex hormone-binding globulin is rare. Determines the presence of pathologies mainly testosterone. SHBG does not bear practically any load. However, there are situations when the definition of this substance in the blood of men is simply necessary.

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

Also, plasma plasma protein SHBG (determination of its level in the blood) is prescribed when the level of testosterone in the male body is within normal limits, and there are various violations.

External deviations include acne, chronic inflammatory processes of the prostate, obesity, breast growth, decreased muscle mass, and more. All these symptoms, as a rule, speak of hormonal disorders.

Causes of abnormalities in the male body

It is important to remember that any hormonal deviation indicates a wide variety of diseases. Low SHBG (hormone) - what is it in men and under what pathologies does it manifest itself?

1. Cirrhosis of the liver.
2. Impaired renal function.
3. Cushing's Syndrome.
4. Benign tumors of the prostate gland.

The important thing is that sometimes the intake of hormonal drugs by a man also affects the level of this protein. Therefore, doctors advise before passing an analysis to refuse to take any medications, and it is better for a few days.

High SHBG (hormone) - what is it in men and what other diseases does it occur in? An increased level of the hormone is most often recorded in pathologies such as hyperthyroidism, HIV, AIDS and hepatitis. However, such ailments become known even before blood donation to determine the level of hormones.

It is worth noting that experienced doctors prescribe for men, in addition to determining globulin in the blood, also an analysis for the amount of testosterone. If the diagnosis is indeed available, then with a high SHBG, testosterone will be small in the male body, but if globulin is, on the contrary, small, then testosterone is present in excess.

Why is SHBG higher in women than in the stronger half?

Any proteins in the human body are synthesized in the liver. When a person’s liver is healthy, and with hormones, as a rule, there are no problems.

The female body has much more estrogen than testosterone. The first hormone increases the synthesis of globulin, and the second - reduces. Therefore, the hormone SHBG is found in abundance in the fair sex. What is this substance responsible for in women?

1. For the normal operation of the ovaries.
2. Normal ovulation.
3. A healthy state of the entire reproductive system as a whole.

What factors influence the result and how does the analysis go?

There are several factors that can distort analysis performance. In this case, SHBG (hormone) decreases or rises in the blood. What is it in women and how to avoid the wrong result?

1. To interpret the level of the substance, it is important to consider the age of the patient.
2. With distorted results, it is necessary to additionally determine the level of testosterone and estrogen in the body.
3. When the liver is in poor condition, the result may differ from the norm.
4. Thyroid function disorder can also affect SHBG levels.
5. Overweight of the patient negatively affects the final result of the analysis.
6. When donating blood to determine the level of SHBG, it is not recommended to use any hormonal drugs for several days. For the purity of the result, it is advisable to completely stop drinking any medications.

Often, doctors prescribe a determination of the level of IST instead of an analysis for SHBG (hormone). What is it in women will be described below.

To determine the sex hormone binding globulin, only venous blood (not more than 10 ml) is used. The fence is made only on an empty stomach. It is forbidden to drink even tea and coffee, but water, if desired, is not excluded. For a day, it is better to exclude physical and emotional stress. Do not drink alcohol and smoke the day before. For three days it is forbidden to use hormonal drugs and have sex.

ICT level determination

As mentioned earlier, analysis to determine the level of globulin is prescribed very rarely. Women are often prescribed to determine the level of IST ( free testosterone index ). Based on laboratory tests, you can accurately determine the amount of male hormones in the body.

As a rule, such a test completely replaces the analysis for SHBG (hormone), but not always. Most often, testosterone in women is elevated, but if this indicator is below normal, then an analysis is prescribed to determine the level of globulin that binds sex hormones.

Diseases in which deviations from the norm are noted

Now you need to understand what pathologies SHBG (hormone) is lowered or increased.

A high level of globulin, as a rule, happens in such cases:

• if a large amount of estrogen in the blood is fixed;
• if hepatitis is transferred;
• if pathology of the parathyroid gland is found;
• if the patient takes hormonal oral contraceptives for a long time;
• in rare cases, a high level depends on the constitution of the person.

A lower blood protein says:

• violation of the kidneys;
• diabetes mellitus;
• Cushing's disease;
• PCOS;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• the presence of acromegaly.

Necessary treatment

To determine the exact level of protein in the blood, it is strongly recommended to take an analysis for SHBG (hormone) several times. Only on the basis of a few laboratory tests can an experienced doctor suspect a diagnosis. It is worth noting that an increase or decrease in globulin in the blood is only a symptom of the disease, the true cause of the change needs to be found and treated.

In cases where a high level of protein in the blood is detected, drugs are prescribed to reduce it. All of them are called corticosteroids. These drugs may be given in the form of injections or tablets. To increase SHBG in the blood, statins are prescribed.

If a person's globulin is lower or higher than normal, then in the first place he should be assigned a detailed diagnosis. It is necessary to examine the thyroid gland, pelvic organs and abdominal cavity.

When a person has once had a violation of the SHBG level in the blood, he is advised to monitor this indicator and maintain normal estrogen levels until the end of his life. For women and men, the estrogen norm is different. It is worth noting that if estrogen in the blood is elevated, then globulin will also be high. Estrogen inhibits normal muscle growth. The body becomes flabby over the years, and a person loses physical strength.

Some drugs that increase the level of SHBG in the blood and normalize testosterone:

• Also;
• "Toremifen";
• Clomiphene.

Drugs that reduce the rate of globulin in the blood:

• "Proviron";
• "Insulin";
• Examestan
• "Anastrazole".