Sexual differentiation of the human hypothalamus: Relationship to gender identity and sexual orientation

A Gender-Based Point of View in Pediatric Neurology

“…Due to the fact that sexual differentiation of the genitals occurs far earlier in development than sexual differentiation of the brain, these two processes can be affected separately leading to gender dysphoria [ 4 ]. Moreover, no proof was observed that a person’s postnatal social environment has a significant influence on how they identify with one gender over another or with one sexual orientation [ 6 ]. All these considerations are urging us to direct further efforts in order to identify unique risks linked to gender disorders and gender dysphoria.…”

“…Data on the formation of gender identity are still lacking, but prior research has shown that it appears to be a complicated phenomenon in which epigenetic, biochemical and prenatal variables (including genes and hormones) may all play a role [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. According to a very recent review, gender identity and sexual orientation are likely programmed in the brain during early development: during the intrauterine phase in the second half of pregnancy, a surge in testosterone masculinizes the developing male brain; in the absence of this surge, a female brain will develop [ 6 ]. While the significance of gender has only recently been recognized, gender assigned at birth has long been understood to have a significant influence on a number of illnesses.…”

Gender and sex in eating disorders: A narrative review of the current state of knowledge, research gaps, and recommendations

“…Generally, sex is assigned at birth and considered a dichotomous variable; however, intersex individuals are a group of people that transcend sex as a binary construct due to their diversity in sexual characteristics. In contrast, gender refers to a psychosocial phenomenon (Clayton & Tannenbaum, 2016 ; Swaab et al., 2021 ; Tannenbaum et al., 2016 ) that is modulated by environmental forces and can fluctuate throughout life (Tannenbaum et al., 2016 ). Gender includes gender identity (i.e., how individuals define themselves), gender roles (i.e., social norms and stereotypes related to masculinity and femininity), and gender relations (i.e., interactions between individuals according to their gender and the expectations placed on them by society) (Clayton & Tannenbaum, 2016 ; Tannenbaum et al., 2016 ).…”

The Role of Biological Differences in Sexual Self-Concept and Mental Health in Homosexual and Heterosexual Women

“…10.31580/jrp.v4i2.2564 women is represented in three forms: heterosexuality (tendency to the opposite sex), homosexuality (tendency to the same gender) and bisexuality (tendency to both sexes) (Jennings & de Lecea, 2020) Heterosexuality is defined as a stable pattern of arousal towards the opposite sex (Swaab, Wolff, & Bao, 2021). Heterosexuality involves the majority of sexual orientations that include biological, psychological and social aspects (Jennings & de Lecea, 2020) These tendencies are represented in a diverse set of physiological, behavioral and psychological characteristics such as sexual desire, romantic relationship, physiological arousal, attractions, imaginations and personal identities (Swaab et al, 2021). The most common method to evaluate the sexual orientation is recognition and experience of individual from their own (CE, 2018).…”