BLOOD TEST · SMART CARE POLYCLINIC, DEIRA
SHBG explained
The protein that carries testosterone and oestrogen, needed to read testosterone properly.
Order it on its own, or build your own blood test profile — 4 or more tests save up to 30–50%.
What the SHBG test measures
SHBG carries sex hormones in the blood; hormone bound to it is inactive. Knowing SHBG shows how much testosterone is actually free to act, which is why it changes how a testosterone result is read.
What the result tells you
Low
More testosterone is free to act: seen in PCOS, insulin resistance and excess weight.
High
Less testosterone is free, which can explain low-testosterone symptoms with a normal total level.
Read with testosterone
Together they are used to work out the free androgen index.
How to prepare
- Fasting
- Not required
- Best time
- Morning, with the testosterone sample
What can move the result
A result outside the usual range does not on its own mean something is wrong. These are the everyday explanations a doctor considers first.
Packages that include it
Frequently asked questions
SHBG carries sex hormones in the blood; hormone bound to it is inactive. Knowing SHBG shows how much testosterone is actually free to act, which is why it changes how a testosterone result is read. Low: More testosterone is free to act: seen in PCOS, insulin resistance and excess weight.
Fasting: Not required. Best time: Morning, with the testosterone sample.
Commonly: body weight and insulin resistance; thyroid function; liver function; hormonal contraception and HRT; age. A single result is not a diagnosis. Values are read against the laboratory's own reference range and alongside your history, your symptoms and the rest of the panel — which is why every package includes a doctor to go through them with you.
At Smart Care Polyclinic, 29 Doha Centre, Al Maktoum Rd, Deira, Dubai. It is included in the Hormonal Panel — Female, the Hormonal Panel — Male, or it can be ordered on its own. Walk in during opening hours or call +971 (0)4 379 3562.
Sources
Written from current guidance and reviewed 18 October 2026.
- Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) blood testMedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine
- Polycystic ovary syndromeEndocrine Society