Articles

Browse Articles  »  Health & Medical  »  Things to Know About Sex Hormone Binding...

Things to Know About Sex Hormone Binding Globulin Test

by Aisha Kapoor Medical Laboratory Professional

SHBG test allows the doctor to detect any hormone-based illnesses and conditions in men and women. These hormones include Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), Testosterone, and Estradiol (estrogen). SHBG regulates the amount of testosterone that a person’s body tissues can use. Increased levels of testosterone in women and a reduced level of testosterone in men cause problems. The SHBG level in the blood changes due to several factors including age, sex, liver issues, obesity, and hyperthyroidism.

Why does a person need a sex hormone binding globulin test?

The levels of SHBG show the health and wellness of the body. People may need this test in case they feel symptoms of irregular testosterone levels, especially when a total testosterone test result does not explain the symptoms. The sex hormone binding globulin test is prescribed for men with low testosterone levels and women with increased testosterone levels. Mentioned below are the signs and symptoms of reduced or low SHBG in men.

  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Reduced or late development of muscle mass
  • Slow or late growth of penis and testicles
  • Lack of deepening of the voice
  • Too much hairfall or lack of body hair
  • Growth of breast tissue
  • Fertility problems
  • Low sex drive

Signs of increased testosterone levels in women are:

  • Deepening of voice
  • Excessive hair growth on the body
  • Menstrual irregularities
  • Weight gain
  • Acne, skin pigmentation, and thickening of the skin
  • Fertility problems
  • Difficulty in conception
  • Male patterned baldness

Test procedure

The test procedure is similar to any simple blood test. A healthcare professional collects the blood sample through needle insertion in the veins. Later, the sample is sent for analysis by experts.

What do the results mean?

Normally, the test results are available within 2 days. The result will indicate either low or high levels of testosterone in the body. In case the level is high, it may indicate the following problems:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Overuse of steroid medications
  • Cushing's syndrome
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Cancer of the testicles or adrenal glands in men
  • PCOS in women, PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome is a common hormone problem affecting childbearing women. It is a major cause of infertility in women.

The higher SHBG level in individuals may be the signs of the following conditions:

  • Liver disease
  • Eating disorders
  • Hyperthyroidism, a condition in which the human body creates an excess of thyroid hormone
  • In men, the problem can be related to pituitary gland or testicles. The pituitary gland is situated beneath the brain and regulates several functions in the body.
  • In women, it may be the sign of Addison’s disease or problem with the pituitary gland. Addison’s disease is a specific condition in which the adrenal glands lose the ability to create a sufficient amount of certain hormones.

SHBG levels are usually high in children (both sexes); thus, the test is prescribed for adults. The SHBG tests are available at reasonable costs in the best pathology labs in Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, and many other cities in India.


Sponsor Ads


About Aisha Kapoor Junior   Medical Laboratory Professional

1 connections, 0 recommendations, 16 honor points.
Joined APSense since, August 28th, 2019, From Haryana, India.

Created on Aug 24th 2020 04:07. Viewed 85 times.

Comments

No comment, be the first to comment.
Please sign in before you comment.