High Rates of Same-Sex Attraction/Gender Nonconformity in the Offspring of Mothers with Thyroid Dysfunction During Pregnancy: Proposal of Prenatal Thyroid Model.

Osman Sabuncuoglu

doi:10.4081/mi.2015.5810

Abstract

Both youngsters and adults with same-sex attraction are at greater risk for negative health outcomes. Despite mounting efforts to determine the biological background, a satisfactory conclusion has not been reached and there is a need to explore alternate factors like functioning of thyroid system during pregnancy. A retrospective chart review was undertaken of 790 eligible children and adolescents who had been admitted to child psychiatry between 2005 and 2013. This population consisted of 520 (65%) males and 270 (35%) females, aged 8 to 17 years. Fifteen mothers (1.8%) were found to have a history of thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy. Sixteen youngsters (2%) had a history of same-sex attraction. Twelve overlapping cases with both same-sex attraction and maternal thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy were identified, which was extremely significant (P<0.0001, by Fisher’s exact test). The association was also significant for each sex (P<0.0001, by Fisher’s exact test). There is evidence that thyroid gland plays a crucial and decisive role in determining sexual orientation in people. Maternal thyroid dysfunctions during pregnancy may result in homosexual orientation in the offspring.

Highlights

Despite positive changes in professional definitions, such as removal of homosexuality from DSM in 1973,1 deviations from gender specific heterosexual development still constitute a reason for concern for most of the parents
Unique stressors associated with homosexuality such as stigma, discrimination and bully victimization may adversely affect mental health of young individuals having same-sex attraction.[1]
Review of relevant literature reveals that people having same-sex attraction are at higher risk of mental disorder, suicidal ideation, substance misuse, and deliberate self-harm than heterosexual people.[2]

Summary

Introduction

Despite positive changes in professional definitions, such as removal of homosexuality from DSM in 1973,1 deviations from gender specific heterosexual development still constitute a reason for concern for most of the parents. Unique stressors associated with homosexuality such as stigma, discrimination and bully victimization may adversely affect mental health of young individuals having same-sex attraction.[1] Review of relevant literature reveals that people having same-sex attraction are at higher risk of mental disorder, suicidal ideation, substance misuse, and deliberate self-harm than heterosexual people.[2] Gay youths are more likely to engage in school refusal, runaway behavior and subsequent homelessness, prostitution and sexually transmitted diseases.[3] While it is true that a great majority of people with same-sex attraction do not report any problem relating to their sexual behavior, there is a significant amount of suffering as well.[1,4] It is important to bear in mind that human history is loaded with accounts of severe persecution of individuals with same-sex attraction. Besides fostering greater tolerance of homosexuality on behalf of society, clinicians are required to prevent negative health outcomes associated with it which may be better addressed by understanding the roots of homosexual behavior

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Conclusion