[massmike]

Does Pre-natal Hormonal Exposure
Make You Homosexual?

http://www.mygenes.co.nz/Ch7.pdf

Summary

Although there are some pre-natal hormonal effects having a major effect on sexual behavior for lower
animals, there is no convincing
evidence for such an effect on sexual orientation in humans.

The studies examining the effects of high doses of female hormones to pregnant women are particularly informative
because these are very high doses and any hormonal effects on sexual orientation should show up clearly.

But the result is a dubious effect on women and no effects on men. Any effects on sexual orientation appear
to be better explained in terms of gender non-conformity – arguably a psychological construct. Sex drugs do
increase or lower sex drive, but that appears to be about all.

The maternal immune hypothesis is very speculative, and needs much more evidence before it can be
taken seriously.

We leave the last word to several researchers in the field.
“In summary, the evidence from prenatal endocrine
disorders and from the offspring of hormone-treated
pregnancies suggests that hormones may contribute
to, but do not actually determine, the course of sexual
orientation in individuals with an abnormal sex
steroid history during prenatal life.”3

“At this time, the literature does not support a causal link between hormones
and homosexuality.”10

7
“In clinical practice numerous patients are encountered with gross abnormalities of their hormonal
profiles. As a rule this does not impact on their gender identity or sexual orientation.”35

So, not only your genes didn’t make you do it, it seems your hormones didn’t either. In sexual orientation,
the strongest stimulation appears to come from the mind and the environment.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Good link. Thank you for this information, which I think is pertinent and suggests further inquiry. The evidence you presented dealt with high doses of female hormones during pregnancy, which is reported to have "dubious effects on women and no effects on men" (I suppose they mean women and men who were pre-born babies at the time of their exposure.)

I would like to see more research on prenatal exposure to male hormones, and to chemicals which are androgen-blockers.

In any case, what you quoted said "the evidence from prenatal endocrine disorders and from the offspring of hormone-treated pregnancies suggests that hormones may contribute to, but do not actually determine, the course of sexual orientation in individuals with an abnormal sex steroid history during prenatal life.”

This is what I thought: that it may be one contributing factor. Together with other contributing factors, e.g. childhood traumas, abuse, poor or adverse relationship with the same-sex parent. In particular, a boy's negative relationship with his father seems to be a factor in more than a few male homosexual problems.