Optimum SHBG

[junk2222yard]

I am wondering what the ideal number is, or range is, for SHBG for men on HRT?

I know that Free T should (most feel) be in the upper quadrant of the range. And I know that E2 should not be too low or too high, and for most lower than middle of the range.

What about SHBG?

My own SHBG is 23 NMOL/L [10 - 55 NMOL/L] which seems lowish, especially for someone on HRT. I have hypothyroidism, and (self diagnosed) insulin resistance, which are associated with low SHGB.

Should I actively be trying to raise it, or is my SHBG ok as is, in the lowest quadrant but not near the cutoff?

[gymfu]

I'm no expert here, but SBGH binds to testosterone and nutralizes it, I would say the lower the better, to an extent.

[BallSak]

I believe your SHBG is close to perfect.

[steroid.com 1]

SHBG is best in the mid to lower mid range for men.

Age places a lot here but for most of us, being mid and in the upper third of the reference range is ideal.

[HRTstudent]

I'm no expert here, but SBGH binds to testosterone and nutralizes it, I would say the lower the better, to an extent.

Low SHBG seems to be a problem. We also know that SHBG does more than simply neutralize testosterone. It is a signal as well. We have a lot to learn in general about sex hormones...

My best educated guess as to an ideal SHBG would simply be mid-range.

Really though, SHBG is not something we directly manipulate.

[junk2222yard]

SHBG is best in the mid to lower mid range for men.

Age places a lot here but for most of us, being mid and in the upper third of the reference range is ideal.

Hey gd, I was hoping you would reply. But I am unclear what you are saying? (Seems worded in such a way as to recommend being low, middle and upper at the same time?) Is the last part key: SHBG should be in upper third of range?

My best educated guess as to an ideal SHBG would simply be mid-range.

Really though, SHBG is not something we directly manipulate.

I have read stinging nettle and tongkat ali can lower SHBG, but no, I don't see a lot of people trying to manipulate it, unlike many other hormones.

I am hoping improving my thyroid and improving insulin resistance will boost my SHBG a bit.

[steroid.com 1]

What HRT said; SHBG is best mid range or just below mid range.

And as HRT stated, we largely can't control SHBG and we need it for many other reasons.

When this hormone is low it causes all kinds of problems with fierce anxiety being one of them.

[jimmyinkedup]

What HRT said; SHBG is best mid range or just below mid range.

And as HRT stated, we largely can't control SHBG and we need it for many other reasons.

When this hormone is low it causes all kinds of problems with fierce anxiety being one of them.

Its a growing issue for many on trt as exogenous test administration actually lowers shbg. Its not an easily solved problem for those effected.

[steroid.com 1]

Its a growing issue for many on trt as exogenous test administration actually lowers shbg. Its not an easily solved problem for those effected.

Yes indeed, that's why those with low SHBG should be doing more frequent lower doses of Testosterone injections so it doesn't suppress serum levels even more.

On the other hand, those with elevated SHBG can do one bigger dose each week to put some pressure on serum levels.

[HRTstudent]

A lot of people often mention the primary cause of low SHBG, which is insulin resistance. It's worth looking into.

Nonetheless, it is not the only cause. I have low SHBG but no insulin resistance, and there are many others like that as well. But if one did have insulin resistance then that is paramount to get under control. It's very treatable.

Regarding the herbs to lower SHBG, I've never heard of a success story doing that in the sense that it made the person feel any better. In the past, Dr. Crisler has talked about using pharmaceuticals to lower SHBG and his patients did no better whatsoever. He abandoned that years ago...

On the other hand, thyroid's effect on SHBG seems yet to be determined as far as I'm concerned. If someone had low SHBG, was otherwise healthy, but had suboptimal thyroid, I don't know what the effect would be on SHBG. Could it bring up a person's very low SHBG to a better number? Could it make them feel better as well? I don't know...

[dhickey]

My SHBG is 10, so obviously a bit low. I pulled a couple of interesting things from this thread.

Correlation to anxiety is interesting. I'm dealing with some anxiety, so I'm going to look into that.

The suggestion that those with lower SHBG should inject more frequently is also interesting. I had been injecting twice a week. I'm metabolizing T pretty fast and having issues with E2 control, so I'll be moving to EOD. My trough results would always show total T around midrange and free T above range when injecting 80mg on Mon and Thurs. Going to try 40mg EOD. I already ordered my bloodwork to assess in a couple of weeks.

Correlation with SHBG and insulin resistance is also interesting. That's definitely been an issue for me. Maybe more to do with adrenal issues than my diet. My diet is reasonably solid, so not sure there's significant improvements to be made there. I don't eat a ton of carbs and have lost some weight since starting TRT.

[Nestor Otto Sewell]

Is your SHBG tested for or calculated??

This study Validity of estimating non-SHBG bound testosterone and estradiol from total hormone measurements in boys and girls indicates calculated is not accurate enough for clinical use.

Results

On average, calculated values overestimated assay measured values (−11.7% for non-SHBG bound estradiol in girls and −2.6% for non-SHBG bound testosterone in boys). The intercept and slope of the regression for non-SHBG bound estradiol in girls were −0.13 (95% CI −0.14 to −0.12) and 0.005 (95% CI 0.003 to 0.007), respectively. The intercept and slope for non-SHBG bound testosterone in boys were −0.16 (95% CI −0.17 to −0.14) and 0.0006 (95% CI 0.0005–0.0006).

[junk2222yard]

Is your SHBG tested for or calculated?

To my best of my knowledge it was tested for directly.