Hormonal contributions to sexually dimorphic behavioral development in humans.

Area of Science:

• Developmental behavioral endocrinology
• Neuroendocrinology
• Human behavior genetics

Background:

• Prenatal hormone exposure is critical for sexually dimorphic behavioral development.
• Societal influences can confound the study of prenatal hormone effects on behavior.
• Research is needed to clarify the specific impacts of atypical prenatal hormone environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize findings on the behavioral effects of prenatal hormone exposure in humans.
• To examine the influence of atypical prenatal hormone environments on behavioral development.
• To provide recommendations for future research in developmental behavioral endocrinology.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 19 studies on prenatal hormone exposure and behavior.
• Analysis of behavioral data from individuals with atypical prenatal hormone environments.
• Separate evaluation of effects in male and female subjects.

Main Results:

• Prenatal exposure to androgen-based synthetic progestin showed masculinizing/defeminizing effects.
• Prenatal exposure to natural progesterone/progesterone-based synthetic progestin showed feminizing/demasculinizing effects, especially in females.
• Diethylstibestrol (DES)-exposed males showed feminization/demasculinization; females showed some masculinization.

Conclusions:

• Prenatal hormone exposure significantly contributes to sexually dimorphic behavioral development.
• Specific hormones exert distinct influences, with androgenic and progestogenic compounds having differing effects.
• Further research is recommended to fully elucidate prenatal hormonal contributions to behavior.