Prenatal Sex Hormones (Maternal and Amniotic Fluid) and Gender-related Play Behavior in 13-month-old Infants

Beek, C. van de; Goozen, Stephanie Helena Maria Van; Buitelaar, Jan K.; Cohen‐Kettenis, Peggy T.

doi:10.1007/s10508-007-9291-z

Cited by 76 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Thus, they provide convergent evidence, with the data from studies of CAH and of maternal testosterone, of influences of prenatal testosterone exposure on subsequent sex-typical behavior in childhood. Although two other similar studies found insignificant correlations between testosterone in amniotic fluid and childhood sex-typed behavior [87;135], these negative results could have resulted from small sample sizes and from the use of relatively insensitive behavioral measures.…”

Section: Hormones and Sexual Differentiation Of Childhood Behaviormentioning

confidence: 97%

Prenatal endocrine influences on sexual orientation and on sexually differentiated childhood behavior

Hines

2011

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology

189

112

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Both sexual orientation and sex-typical childhood behaviors, such as toy, playmate and activity preferences, show substantial sex differences, as well as substantial variability within each sex. In other species, behaviors that show sex differences are typically influenced by exposure to gonadal steroids, particularly testosterone and its metabolites, during early development (prenatally or neonatally). This article reviews the evidence regarding prenatal influences of gonadal steroids on human sexual orientation, as well as sex-typed childhood behaviors that predict subsequent sexual orientation. The evidence supports a role for prenatal testosterone exposure in the development of sex-typed interests in childhood, as well as in sexual orientation in later life, at least for some individuals. It appears, however, that other factors, in addition to hormones, play an important role in determining sexual orientation. These factors have not been well-characterized, but possibilities include direct genetic effects, and effects of maternal factors during pregnancy. Although a role for hormones during early development has been established, it also appears that there may be multiple pathways to a given sexual orientation outcome and some of these pathways may not involve hormones.

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Section: Hormones and Sexual Differentiation Of Childhood Behaviormentioning

confidence: 97%

Prenatal endocrine influences on sexual orientation and on sexually differentiated childhood behavior

Hines

2011

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology

189

112

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Although two studies reported no relationship between aT and sex -typical play (Knickmeyer et al, 2005 ;van de Beek, van Goozen, Buitelaar, & Cohen -Kettenis, 2009 ), these studies may have lacked suffi cient experimental power to detect effects. The fi rst study assessed childhood behavior by maternal report in 22 girls and 31 boys, and the second by observed toy choice in 63 girls and 63 boys.…”

Section: Biological E Xplanationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex Differences in Social Behavior

Pasterski¹,

Golombok²,

Hines³

2010

The Wiley‐Blackwell Handbook of Childhood Social Development

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From an early age, boys and girls can be easily distinguished according to sex. Although this is partly due to appearance and the way in which their parents dress them and cut their hair, it is also because of the things that children do. Boys and girls like to play with different toys, prefer different games, and engage in different activities. Long before they reach school age, it is possible to tell with a reasonable degree of accuracy whether a child is a boy or a girl simply on the basis of his or her behavior. This does not mean that all boys engage in male -typical activities, or that all girls engage in female -typical activities, all of the time. There is a great deal of overlap between the sexes, with some girls seeming quite " boyish " and some boys seeming quite " girlish. " Although there is considerable variation in the behavior of children within each sex, it is generally more acceptable for girls to behave like boys than it is for boys to behave like girls. This may explain why the term tomboy used to describe masculine girls is often used endearingly, whereas sissy is a much more derogatory term when applied to feminine boys.What exactly are the differences in behavior shown by boys and girls? And how do these differences develop? These are the questions that will be addressed in this chapter. First, sex differences in social behavior will be described from the preschool to the elementary school years. This will be followed by a consideration of the various theories that have been put forward to explain this phenomenon. The sections on biological theories draw from Collaer and Hines (1995) and Hines (2004Hines ( , 2009 , whereas those on psychological theories draw from Golombok and Fivush (1994) . As will be seen, some theories have greater empirical support than others. Following Maccoby (1988) , the terms sex and gender will be used interchangeably throughout the chapter without any assumption that sex implies biological causes or that gender results from socialization.

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“…Umbilical cord blood androgens are likely to reflect the fetal androgen environment during late gestation. However, a major limitation of the use of cord blood is that it is possible that androgen influences on development may occur earlier in gestation (34). …”

Section: Biological Interpretation Of Cord Blood Hormonesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measurement of Androgen and Estrogen Concentrations in Cord Blood: Accuracy, Biological Interpretation, and Applications to Understanding Human Behavioral Development

et al. 2014

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Accurately measuring hormone exposure during prenatal life presents a methodological challenge and there is currently no “gold standard” approach. Ideally, circulating fetal hormone levels would be measured at repeated time points during pregnancy. However, it is not currently possible to obtain fetal blood samples without significant risk to the fetus, and therefore surrogate markers of fetal hormone levels must be utilized. Umbilical cord blood can be readily obtained at birth and largely reflects fetal circulation in late gestation. This review examines the accuracy and biological interpretation of the measurement of androgens and estrogens in cord blood. The use of cord blood hormones to understand and investigate human development is then discussed.

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Prenatal Sex Hormones (Maternal and Amniotic Fluid) and Gender-related Play Behavior in 13-month-old Infants

Cited by 76 publications

References 55 publications

Prenatal endocrine influences on sexual orientation and on sexually differentiated childhood behavior

Prenatal endocrine influences on sexual orientation and on sexually differentiated childhood behavior

Sex Differences in Social Behavior

Measurement of Androgen and Estrogen Concentrations in Cord Blood: Accuracy, Biological Interpretation, and Applications to Understanding Human Behavioral Development

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