ABSTRACT

Endocrine variations, including possibly reduced exposure to androgens, may contribute to the development of male homosexuality, with animal models demonstrating same-sex mate preference with altered exposure during prenatal or early postnatal development. As similar studies in humans are impossible, indirect physical and cognitive measures of androgen exposure are used. Some studies suggest that physical measures affected by prenatal androgens, including the index-to-ring finger ratio, growth indices, and facial structure, are more “feminine” in gay men. Gay men also exhibit significant childhood gender non-conformity and a “feminized” anatomical and functional brain pattern in sexual arousal, as well as domains such as language, visuospatial skills and hemispheric relationships. However, many of these results are equivocal and may be confounded by other factors. Research has also been hampered by inconsistencies in the reporting of sexual orientation and the potentially unrepresentative populations of gay men studied, while additional complexities pertaining to gender conformity and sexual role may also influence results.

摘要

内分泌变异，包括可能减少对雄激素的暴露，可能有助于男性同性恋的发展，动物模型显示同性伴侣偏好在产前或产后早期发育期间改变暴露。由于不可能对人类进行类似的研究，因此使用了雄激素暴露的间接身体和认知测量。一些研究表明，受产前雄激素影响的生理指标，包括食指与无名指的比例、生长指数和面部结构，在男同性恋者中更“女性化”。男同性恋者在性唤起以及语言、视觉空间技能和大脑半球关系等领域也表现出显着的童年性别不符合和“女性化”的解剖和功能大脑模式。然而，其中许多结果是模棱两可的，可能会被其他因素混淆。研究也因性取向报告的不一致以及所研究的男同性恋者可能不具代表性的人群而受到阻碍，而与性别一致性和性角色有关的额外复杂性也可能影响结果。