Sex hormone-binding globulin
Progestogen SHBG (% ) CBG (% )
17α-Allyl-19-nortestosterone < 1 ?
Allylestrenol < 1 ?
Chlormadinone acetate < 1 < 1
Cyproterone acetate < 1 < 1
Desogestrel < 1 < 1
Dienogest < 1 < 1
Drospirenone < 1 < 1
Etonogestrel 15 < 1
Gestodene 40 < 1
Levonorgestrel 50 < 1
Medroxyprogesterone acetate < 1 < 1
Megestrol acetate < 1 < 1
Nomegestrol acetate < 1 < 1
Norelgestromin < 1 ?
Norethisterone 16 < 1
Noretynodrel < 1 < 1
Norgestimate < 1 < 1
Progesterone < 1 36
Promegestone < 1 < 1
Segesterone acetate < 1 ?
Clinical significance -- Medications
Oral contraceptives containing ethinylestradiol can increase SHBG levels by 2- to 4-fold and decrease free testosterone concentrations by 40 to 80% in women . [ 36 ] They can be used to treat symptoms of hyperandrogenism like acne and hirsutism . [ 36 ] [ 7 ] Some oral contraceptives , namely those containing high doses of ethinylestradiol ( which have been discontinued and are no longer marketed ) , can increase SHBG levels by as much as 5- to 10-fold . [ 7 ] Some medications , such as certain anabolic steroids like mesterolone and danazol and certain progestins like levonorgestrel and norethisterone , have high affinity for SHBG and can bind to it and displace endogenous steroids from it , thereby increasing free concentrations of these endogenous steroids . [ 37 ] [ 38 ] [ 39 ] It has been estimated that therapeutic levels of danazol , methyltestosterone , fluoxymesterone , levonorgestrel , and norethisterone would respectively occupy or displace from testosterone 83–97% , 48–69% , 42–64% , 16–47% , and 4–39% of SHBG binding sites , while others with low affinity for SHBG such as ethinylestradiol , cyproterone acetate , and medroxyprogesterone acetate would occupy or displace from testosterone 1% or fewer SHBG binding sites . [ 37 ] [ 40 ]
Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) or sex steroid-binding globulin (SSBG) is a glycoprotein that binds to androgens and estrogens. Other steroid hormones such as progesterone, cortisol, and other corticosteroids are bound by transcortin. SHBG is found in all vertebrates apart from birds.