Endocrine Function in Male and Female Homosexuals

Abstract

MEDIAof measurements indicate that for any particular fundal level there is up to eight weeks' variation in gestational age. In practice, therefore, the clinical detection of a baby "large for dates" or "small for dates" necessitates at least four to six weeks' difference between the traditional level of the fundus and the fundal height observed.No standard rate of uterine growth was discovered in this study and sometimes no detectable increase in the level of the fundus occurred throughout four weeks of pregnancy. The most informative index of fetal maturity was the size of the whole uterus when assessed by pelvic examination in the first trimester of pregnancy. At a later stage neither the level of the uterine fundus nor its relationship to abdominal landmarks provided a reliable guide to geistational age.We acknowledge the work undertaken during this study by our research technician, Miss Susan Taylor. REFERENCE Campbell, S. (1969) J7ournal, 1970, 4, 406-408 S ummary: Serial assays of hormones and their metabolites are reported in the urine of three male and four female homosexuals. Urinary testosterone levels were abnormally low in the two men who practised exclusive homosexuality and were within the normal range in the third, who had both homosexual and heterosexual Irelationships. In the women assays were generally performed throughout one menstrual cycle; in three the pattern of hormone excretion was ovulatory in character, while in the fourth evidence for ovulation was equivocal. Levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone (L.H.) were raised in the female homosexuals, while those for oestrogens, particularly oestrone, were below the range for normal heterosexual subjects during their reproductive life; readings of follicle-stimulating hormone (F.S.H.) and pregnanediol were normal in three women. The data reported here are in keeping with the view that abnormalities in endocrine function may occur in both male and female homosexuals. INTRODUCTIONIt is now recognized that overt homosexuality is not a rare occurrence in the general population and that the condition is more prevalent in men than in women. There remain, however, considerable differences of opinion among authorities in this field as to the precise incidence of homosexuality in either sex (Kinsey et al., 1948;Bancroft, 1970; Kenyon, 1970). Traditionally the condition has been regarded as essentially psychogenic in origin, and a very extensive literature now exists with respect to the psychological factors which are believed to be responsible for its causation.The emphasis on the psychogenic aspects of homosexuality has tended to obscure the possibility that abnormalities in endocrine function, and in particular some form of hormonal imbalance, might be present and might conceivably play a part in its pathogenesis. At the time of writing the literature contains little reliable information on the endocrinology of homosexuality, and detailed hormone assay studies in men and women with this condition have been reported to a very limited exte...

Sex and the migraine brain

“…Such dysfunction may explain the link between migraine and hypothalamic-regulated circadian rhythms, such as timekeeping, gonadal hormones, and cortisol secretion. Furthermore, homosexual men have a higher incidence of migraine (7.2 vs. 15.5%) (105), lower testosterone levels (106), increased suprachiasmatic nucleus volume (107), and decreased interstitial nucleus volume of the anterior hypothalamus number 3 (INAH3) compared to heterosexual men, but volumetric similarities (in the different hypothalamic nuclei) with women (108). …”

Androsteroneetiocholanolone Ratios in Male Homosexuals

“…A previous study by Margolese (1970) showed that healthy adult males excreted androsterone and etiocholanolone in ratios that clearly discriminated between heterosexual and homosexual subjects. This was followed by a study by Lorraine (1970) who found low urinary testosterone in two homosexual males and raised urinary itestosterone in four homosexual females. The idea that changes in endocrine function might contribute to the genesis of homosexuality in humans was then given further impetus by Kolodny et al (1971) who showed that plasma testosterone levels of a homosexual group were significantly lower than those of a control group.…”

Biological Research on Women's Sexual Orientations: Evaluating the Scientific Evidence

“…The prediction was that lesbians would have more masculine patterns of hormones than would heterosexual women. Several small studies found differences between lesbians and heterosexual women (Gartrell, Loriaux, & Chase, 1977;Loraine, Adamopoulos, Kirkham, Ismail, & Dove, 1971;Loraine, Ismail, Adamopoulos, & Dove, 1970). In contrast, three more recent studies comparing carefully matched samples of lesbians and heterosexual women failed to find significant differences on multiple hormonal measures (Dancey, 1990;Downey, Ehrhardt, Schiffman, Dyrenfurth, & Becker, 1987;Griffiths et al, 1974).…”