Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I ran across this study:

QuoteJürgensen M, Hiort O, Holterhus PM, Thyen U.

Department of Child and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany.

Children exhibit gender-typical preferences in play, toys, activities and interests, and playmates. Several studies suggest that high concentrations of pre- and postnatal androgens contribute to male-typical behavior development, whereas female-typical behavior develops in the absence of high androgens levels. This study aims to explore the consequences of hypoandrogenization on gender-typical behavior in children who have an XY karyotype and disorder of sex development (DSD). Participants included 33 children (ages 2-12 years) with an XY karyotype and DSD; 21 reared as girls and 12 reared as boys. Children's preferred activities and interests and playmate preferences were assessed with parent report questionnaires, a structured free-play task, and choice of a toy to keep as a gift. Participant's responses were compared to those of children recruited in a pre-school and elementary school survey (N=166). In this study, the degree of hypoandrogenization as indicated by genital stage and diagnosis showed a significant relationship to nearly all of the gender-related behaviors assessed, supporting the hypothesis that masculinization of gender role behavior is a function of prenatal androgen exposure. Despite the fact that children with partial androgen effects reared as girls showed increased "boyish" behaviors, they did not show increased signs of gender identity confusion or instability on a group level. We conclude that androgen exposure plays a decisive role in the development of gender-typical behavior in children with XY karyotype and DSD conditions.

As I get further into transition I'm getting more curious about this as a possibility
the more I realize about myself. I may be just a TS but I'd like to know
for sure.

I know I've read that some of you have had the test and found you are all male as
far as your chromosomes are concerned but I'd still like to do it.

Has anyone used one of the online labs like directlabs.com to do this (they
don't do xy but they do a lot of other stuff).

If you've had it done let me know the cost too please :)

A couple of more studies:

QuoteDepartment of Psychology, City University, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB, United Kingdom. m.hines@city.ac.uk

Gonadal hormones, particularly androgens, direct certain aspects of brain development and exert permanent influences on sex-typical behavior in nonhuman mammals. Androgens also influence human behavioral development, with the most convincing evidence coming from studies of sex-typical play. Girls exposed to unusually high levels of androgens prenatally, because they have the genetic disorder, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), show increased preferences for toys and activities usually preferred by boys, and for male playmates, and decreased preferences for toys and activities usually preferred by girls. Normal variability in androgen prenatally also has been related to subsequent sex-typed play behavior in girls, and nonhuman primates have been observed to show sex-typed preferences for human toys. These findings suggest that androgen during early development influences childhood play behavior in humans at least in part by altering brain development.

QuoteHines M, Kaufman FR.

Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine 90024-1759.

We hypothesized that girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), who experience higher than normal levels of androgens prenatally, would show masculinization of behaviors that show sex differences. Therefore, we examined rough-and-tumble play and sex of preferred playmates in 3-8-year-old children with CAH and in unaffected 3-8-year-old male and female relatives. The hypothesized sex differences in rough-and-tumble play were seen, with unaffected boys showing more rough-and-tumble play than unaffected girls. However, CAH girls were similar to unaffected girls. Additionally, CAH boys showed reduced rough-and-tumble play. In contrast, sex of preferred playmates showed the hypothesized pattern of results. There were sex differences, with unaffected boys preferring boys and unaffected girls preferring girls. In addition, the preferences of girls with CAH were masculinized compared to those of unaffected girls. Results are discussed in terms of possible influences of social, hormonal, and illness factors.

I hated rough-and-tumble play as a young child.

Amanda

Original link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17306800 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17306800)

I have been recently studying the topic extensivly cuz i am in a proces
of getting a diagnosis... I had my karyotype done, it came XY and was
covered by isurance.
Only chromosome abnormality that can go (presumably) go unnoticed in
my oppinion is Klinefelter's syndrome XXY, because all other abnormalities
include some delay in both physical and mental development and therefore,
if you had normal puberty and no major mental issues it is not likely to have
unusual karyotype.
But beeing intersex isn't smthing that can be determined by karyotype only.
If it is just karyotype than it is the "easy" case to handle, but in other cases
when it's normal, and other stuff indicate some disorder, than it is the difficult
case.
I was recetly diagnosed with testicular tumor, and had it removed; it all went
well. But pathological analysis found "estrogen producing tissue" (as they
have labeled it) in the removed testicle. So even though karyotype is normal
smt is certanly wrong and I am really having though time finding out what; at
first findig qualified doctor to take care of my specific situation.
I hope my experience helps somehow.... :)

QuoteBut pathological analysis found "estrogen producing tissue" (as they
have labeled it) in the removed testicle. So even though karyotype is normal
smt is certanly wrong and I am really having though time finding out what; at
first findig qualified doctor to take care of my specific situation.

That's interesting... I was always thin but after puberty I developed
a bit of gyno... mostly just swollen nipples and some fullness. I wonder
if there is chance there is some type of  "estrogen producing tissue"
that caused that.

I have not read or done any research on this so that may be really far
out in left field.

QuoteI hope my experience helps somehow....

Yea it does... it makes me think I need to dig a little further... thanks :)

Amanda

I am not sure how this relates to me because I was a fan of both male and female toys and I love rough-and-tumble play. From my own observation I believe that my brain is too sensitive to testosterone and the high amounts in my body have a negative effect on the operation of my brain. This normally takes the form of an uncomfortable mental pressure, lack of emotion, and extreme shyness and social fear. Once I remove the excess testosterone these problems are relived and I am able to function better.

I certainly want to be female physically but I am now wondering if this physical problem is unrelated to my desire to change sex and I just attached those feelings to that problem over time. Either way it makes no difference in the end result but the process may be different. Yep.

Well, the problem with karyotyping is that it doesn't account for mosaicism, the presence of multiple chromosomes in the body.  Some tissues might be tested and revealed to be XX, while others are XY, or any other combination that you can think of.  There is a test, called FISH (I can't remember what it stands for) that is more accurate and takes mosaicism into account, but I haven't got any idea how much it costs.  Honestly, I'm not sure that I want to know my chromosomes; yes, I suspect that I might be intersex (as I imagine most transexuals like to), but, really, chromosomes don't mean much.  I was just reading last night about Maria Patino, a Spanish athlete in the Olympics who was found to be AIS and got kicked off the Spanish team for being an XY woman.  A shattered life, very sad, even if she was eventually vindicated.  I just feel like... we are not our chromosomes.

Lia