What causes high SHBG ? Its killing my free T

[Rhino 2.0]

Are there any causes of high SHBG or is it just genetic? I heard it is rare for young guys to have high SHBG. I have high SHBG and I am only 26 and I have decent total testosterone levels usually anywhere from 600-800 but SHBG is always at top the top of reference range or a little higher. Can SHBG just randomly creep out of nowhere and lower your free testosterone or is just my total testosterone is getting lower over the years? Either way I don't think there is anyway around this but for me to go on TRT at a young age. Everytime I use the free testosterone calculator I am less than 2% free. more like 1.5% for me.

 

[sh1973]

I’ve had high shbg for the last 10 years and really think it’s mostly hereditary. Liver damage from heavy drinking, certain medications and other elicit drugs can cause it. Chronic long session cardio can raise it. Consuming a large amount of soy can raise it. Don’t bother with the supplements : boron, nettle root, dhea and the other few that are promoted to lower it, because they don’t work. You have to work around it. I don’t worry about free t percentage in the least. I get to where I feel good which is 10-12ng that for me is roughly 1.5 percent. If I wanted to strive for 2 percent, my total levels would be in the 1400-1650ng range which for me is far worse in every aspect than being hypogonadyl. Basically what I’m saying is find where you feel good and don’t worry about a percentage.

 

[madman]

I’ve had high shbg for the last 10 years and really think it’s mostly hereditary. Liver damage from heavy drinking, certain medications and other elicit drugs can cause it. Chronic long session cardio can raise it. Consuming a large amount of soy can raise it. Don’t bother with the supplements : boron, nettle root, dhea and the other few that are promoted to lower it, because they don’t work. You have to work around it. I don’t worry about free t percentage in the least. I get to where I feel good which is 10-12ng that for me is roughly 1.5 percent. If I wanted to strive for 2 percent, my total levels would be in the 1400-1650ng range which for me is far worse in every aspect than being hypogonadyl. Basically what I’m saying is find where you feel good and don’t worry about a percentage.

You state "I don’t worry about free t percentage in the least. I get to where I feel good which is 10-12ng that for me is roughly 1.5 percent"


Unless your FT was drastically lower than 10-12ng (1.5%) pre-trt than it would be pointless to go on trt as for most men these FT levels would be far too low to be of any benefit.

 

[madman]

Are there any causes of high SHBG or is it just genetic? I heard it is rare for young guys to have high SHBG. I have high SHBG and I am only 26 and I have decent total testosterone levels usually anywhere from 600-800 but SHBG is always at top the top of reference range or a little higher. Can SHBG just randomly creep out of nowhere and lower your free testosterone or is just my total testosterone is getting lower over the years? Either way I don't think there is anyway around this but for me to go on TRT at a young age. Everytime I use the free testosterone calculator I am less than 2% free. more like 1.5% for me.

Again I understand your frustrations but you keep asking the same questions over and over after people have given you answers.

Of course there are other factors aside from genetics which can alter ones SHBG.

I will post this for you again as I did before https://academic.oup.com/view-large/94946834



If you made sure through blood work that your thyroid/adrenals are functioning optimally and you are still experiencing low t symptoms than if the clomid therapy you are on does not improve your condition (as you need to give it time) than strongly consider trt.

Seeing as your shbg is so high than your FT may very well be too low for you.

 

[sh1973]

My pre treatment free levels were in the 5-6ng range, so I’ve doubled them. Everyone doesn’t need high levels to feel well. I’ve had my levels over the years between 600ng and the way up to 1900ng. Total t above 1000ng and free t anything above 15-16ng range is completely detrimental to the way I feel. Examples: insomnia, anxiety, weight gain, lethargy, acne and so on. I feel better with lower levels, maybe you don’t but we’re all different.

 

[madman]

My pre treatment free levels were in the 5-6ng range, so I’ve doubled them. Everyone doesn’t need high levels to feel well. I’ve had my levels over the years between 600ng and the way up to 1900ng. Total t above 1000ng and free t anything above 15-16ng range is completely detrimental to the way I feel. Examples: insomnia, anxiety, weight gain, lethargy, acne and so on. I feel better with lower levels, maybe you don’t but we’re all different.

Sure not everyone needs high levels but many need to be above 2% to experience benefits.

In your case seeing as your FT was 5-6ng pre-trt and are now in the 15-16ng range than you have found where you experience benefits/minus the sides but at the same time you mentioned in previous posts that libido is still lacking.

Do you truly feel well overall at those levels regarding mood/energy/libido/erectile function/body composition changes (improve muscle/strength)/recovery?

 

[sh1973]

Libido has been and continues to be evasive on trt. To answer your question, all parameters you mentioned are absolutely better at a lower level. My shbg normally is right around 70. Having total t levels above 1000ng causes crushing fatigue, ed, zero libido, feeling out of breath and on and on and on.

 

[Rhino 2.0]

Anybody think a liver cleanse/detox supplement could possibly lower SHBG?

 

[jdthoosier]

JayLay - there's no evidence that any sort of detox/cleanse regimen actually is beneficial. The whole detox/cleanse is just another woo woo thing. Your liver is specifically design to detox just fine and will do the job unless you mess with it. People are always looking for magical silver bullets and the homeopathic industry take advantage of this.

I personally have high SHBG and I attribute it to a combination of age, genetics, and probably some degree of hypothyroidism. But I've been at this long enough to treat for symptoms, not the numbers. If anything I've learned: if you are on TRT, you must get your fundamentals right to ensure TRT is optimal: a clean diet (no fast foot crap, no processed foods, no soda, etc); exercise, sleep, lose the fat if you are obese, and stress reduction.

I have less than perfect numbers but I feel pretty good most days. I have my off days but I expect that is the norm for everyone. I just am not going to stress about my numbers. One person's normal might be another person's problem.