Sexual Hormones and the Brain: An Essential Alliance for Sexual Identity and Sex

[Julie Marie]

The fetal brain develops during the intrauterine period in the male direction through a direct action of testosterone on the developing nerve cells, or in the female direction through the absence of this hormone surge. In this way, our gender identity (the conviction of belonging to the male or female gender) and sexual orientation are programmed or organized into our brain structures when we are still in the womb.

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[Silver]

The fetal brain develops during the intrauterine period in the male direction through a direct action of testosterone on the developing nerve cells

No, by indirect action of testosterone or more accurately direct action of high levels of prenatal estrogen.

I'm not nitpicky, they should have their facts right. I stopped reading there.

[armozel]

I think the front on this issue of human development is still out at least in terms of how hormones influence the morphology of the brain and what that will result in terms of behavior. I remember one study with post-mortem subjects where a certain portion of the brain was measured for size differences versus their known sexual orientation. I believe it was found there was some correlation or what not and this had a few outliers, namely those who were known to be married and claimed to be known as heterosexual. So, with such variations or outliers no one can say with absolute certainty what are the key elements to identity in the biological context.

[Julie Marie]

It seems it's all about testosterone, either the absence of it or the existence of it.  And it seems the brain needs to be as equally influenced by it as the body.

I'm not an expert so just ignore my conclusions if you need.

What may be most positive for many is

"There is no indication that social environment after birth has an effect on gender identity or sexual orientation."

Hmmmmm... So an absentee father or a sister who encouraged you to play with dolls, was not the cause of your gender dysphoria?  Maybe it was the room your parents painted pink or blue.  Yeah, that's it.