Effects of oestradiol on sex hormone binding globulin

Abstract
Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels were studied for possible effects of estradiol-17.beta. on SHBG. No change in SHBG plasma was recorded during normal menstrual cycles or during treatment with estradiol-17.beta. to menopausal women. Gonadotropin treatment to amenorrheic women to induce ovulation resulted in high estradiol concentrations and a pronounced increase in SHBG was found during the luteal phase of these cycles. A marked increase of SHBG was also recorded in a woman with pronounced fluctuations of estradiol during treatment with levonorgestrel s.c. implants for contraception. In conclusion, effects on SHBG were only found when extraordinarily high levels of plasma estradiol were recorded.