Magno
Sex Hormones
SHBG on TRT
What the number means, why it moves on a protocol, and how it sits with related markers.
What it is
Sex hormone binding globulin is the protein that carries testosterone in the blood. High SHBG means less free hormone from the same total; low SHBG means more.
The range
How to read the lab range
Lab ranges are wide, roughly 18 to 55 nmol/L. Toward the top, free testosterone runs low for the total; toward the bottom, more of the total is free and estradiol swings hit harder.
Why it moves on a protocol
- Low carbohydrate intake, low insulin and thyroid running high push SHBG up.
- Insulin resistance, higher body fat and higher testosterone doses push it down.
- Age raises it slowly.
How Magno reads it
Magno keeps every test on one line, against your lab's range, with the change since last time. Pro explains it in plain words. Get Magno for iPhone.
Read yours
Drop your lab PDF or a photo and get every marker explained in plain words. Free, no account, your file never leaves your browser. Track it in the iPhone app to see the change since your last test.
Questions people ask
Does testosterone lower SHBG?
Yes, modestly. That is one reason free testosterone can climb faster than total on a protocol.
Is high SHBG bad?
Not bad, but it means the total testosterone overstates what is available. That is why SHBG and free testosterone are read together.
Related markers
Not medical advice
This explains what the number is and why it moves. It is not medical advice; decisions belong to you and your clinician.