. Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) is a protein primarily produced by the liver that binds to sex hormones, such as testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and estradiol, in the blood.
. SHBG regulates the amount of free (active) testosterone and other sex hormones available for the body to use.
. It is used to evaluate conditions related to abnormal hormone levels, such as infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hirsutism, and androgen deficiency in men.
. The test is often combined with total testosterone to calculate free testosterone index (FTI) for a comprehensive hormone evaluation.