Can changes in sex hormone binding globulin predict the risk of venous thromboembolism with combined oral contraceptive pills?

Background: Recent studies have indicated that the risk of thromboembolic disease (VTE) in users of combined oral contraceptive pills (COCs) varies not only with estrogen dose, but also with the progestogen in pills with the same estrogen dose. The aim of this article is to discuss sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) as a marker of estrogenicity and as a surrogate indicator for the potential risk of VTE in users of COC.

Material And Methods: Using data from the literature, we investigated the relationship between the risk of VTE with various COCs and their effects on SHBG.