A liver protein that binds sex hormones and controls how much is biologically active.
Also known as: sex hormone binding globulin
Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is made by the liver and binds to testosterone and estrogen in the bloodstream. Hormone that is bound to SHBG is generally not active in tissues.
SHBG levels influence how much free hormone is available. Low SHBG can raise the active fraction of androgens and is sometimes seen alongside insulin resistance.