Prenatal androgen exposure and gender behavior in disorders of sex development

Abstract

Summary Aim Comparison of gender personality traits in CAH-affected 46,XX patients with those in 46,XY patients with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) or gonadal dysgenesis (GD). Patients and methods Thirty-six 46,XX CAH, three 46,XY AIS, four 46, XY GD patients. The Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) was used to measure masculinity, femininity and to research gender roles. Results The lowest femininity values were in the patients with CAH, the highest in patients with AIS. Age at study was not associated with the value of BSRI score. CAH patients with the Prader score 4 had lower median femininity score values than those who had the Prader score 3, however, the difference was statistically insignificant. Conclusion More masculinizied personality behavioral traits in females with CAH most likely result from exposure of the fetal brain to high levels of androgens.