[Lotus]

Hi Lotus, thanks so much for this! All noted!

SHBG is a topic that I've always been unsure of in regards to breast growth so any insight there would be appreciated along with the GTE info. I was never sure if GTE alone would be enough as the only anti-androgen in a program, or any other NBE effects it may have.

Hi armuline, 

Here's a simpler way to look at SHBG, at least in my opinion. Sometimes SHBG has too much androgens in the bloodstream, and they happen to be "free androgens" :

In other words, as quoted in science: 
"Low SHBG levels result in a sustained increase in the circulating free androgen concentration"...which can turn into DHT. 

So the goal for all PCOS sufferers is to "RAISE SHBG Levels"....not lower it. And when you raise SHBG you slowly turn off PCOS. That's my viewpoint. Start finding ingredients and things that increase SHBG. 

What raises SHBG?..One study below indicates vitamin D3 between 1,000iu to 4,000iu per day raises SHBG and has a beneficial effect on lowering androgens.

• Metformin raises SHBG, but it's really hard on digestion
  

• Drinking coffee can raise SHBG
  

Effects of vitamin D supplementation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a review

Daniela Menichini et al. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2020 Jan.
Abstract

Increasing evidence supports the contribution of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in metabolic disturbances among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This review aims to assess the associations between vitamin D levels and metabolic/endocrine dysregulations and to determine the effects of vitamin D supplementation on glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, and hormone functionality in PCOS patients. We searched in PubMed human randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English between 2016 and 2019 on the effects of vitamin D supplementation on PCOS. Nine studies were included and analyzed. Vitamin D supplementation restored physiological serum 25(OH)D levels in PCOS women in all the studies included. In six studies, it significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose and brought to improvements in insulin resistance (IR) and serum fasting insulin. In addition, four studies reported decreases of serum triglycerides, while discordant data are reported as far as LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol levels. High-doses of vitamin D (4000 IU), compared with low-dose (1000 IU), and placebo, showed beneficial effects on total testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and free androgen index (FAI). Vitamin D supplementation at high doses for a period of at least 12 weeks, may lead to improvement in terms of glucose level, insulin sensitivity, hyperlipidemia, and hormonal functionality in PCOS women.

Effect of Long-Term Treatment with Metformin Added to Hypocaloric Diet on Body Composition, Fat Distribution, and Androgen and Insulin Levels in Abdominally Obese Women with and without the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome 
https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/85/8/2767/2852497