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This is a good question. It’s important to have a pre-TRT baseline measurement otherwise you will probably never know why it ends up low after starting because you could never rule out the testosterone being present and/or changing your body even if you were to stop.


I had low SHBG before TRT, and I had the beginnings of metabolic syndrome. I wasn’t too overweight and my glucose and A1c looked great. But I had subclinical hypothyroidism and my fasting insulin was very high. Cholesterol was horrible as well. Fixed those and SHBG went from 8-10 to 23.


Another reason as Cataceous pointed out could be due to SHBG being a regulator of sex hormones. You could see a drastic swing, but as he said you would probably need something like Estradiol being undetectable for something like that to happen. I have not seen a TRT dose tank SHBG in its own without something else being involved. It could also be caused by medications or simply genetics.


I don’t feel testosterone anymore regardless of where my SHBG is at, but that’s because better has become my normal and it no longer feels different or new. Testosterone does not fix a lot on its own for me specifically, but that’s because of the Accutane I was given as a teen, not SHBG’s fault. I have very little 5-ar activity happening. So I work on keeping DHT high and supplementing that with other androgens which makes a huge difference.


TRT Hormone Predictor Widget

TRT Hormone Predictor

Predict estradiol, DHT, and free testosterone levels based on total testosterone

⚠️ Medical Disclaimer

This tool provides predictions based on statistical models and should NOT replace professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your TRT protocol.

ℹ️ Input Parameters

Normal range: 300-1000 ng/dL

Predicted Hormone Levels

Enter your total testosterone value to see predictions

Results will appear here after calculation

Understanding Your Hormones

Estradiol (E2)

A form of estrogen produced from testosterone. Important for bone health, mood, and libido. Too high can cause side effects; too low can affect well-being.

DHT

Dihydrotestosterone is a potent androgen derived from testosterone. Affects hair growth, prostate health, and masculinization effects.

Free Testosterone

The biologically active form of testosterone not bound to proteins. Directly available for cellular uptake and biological effects.

Scientific Reference

Lakshman KM, Kaplan B, Travison TG, Basaria S, Knapp PE, Singh AB, LaValley MP, Mazer NA, Bhasin S. The effects of injected testosterone dose and age on the conversion of testosterone to estradiol and dihydrotestosterone in young and older men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Aug;95(8):3955-64.

DOI: 10.1210/jc.2010-0102 | PMID: 20534765 | PMCID: PMC2913038

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