SHBG is a protein made mostly in your liver. It binds (attaches) to sex hormones in your blood. When the SHBG protein binds to sex hormones, your tissues can't use those hormones. Your tissues can only use sex hormones that are "free," which means they aren't attached to proteins, such as SHBG. Increased levels of SHBG are often seen in elderly men or individuals who have an underactive thyroid or liver cirrhosis. If your SHBG levels are too high, it likely means that less of your total testosterone is “free” testosterone that's available for your tissues to use. So, your tissues may not be getting enough testosterone.