It is not hormone levels, according to Carlson (2007) that affect sexual orientation. Hormone levels in heterosexual and homosexual individuals have been found to be similar. However, instead, it is exposure to hormones prenatally may be the cause.
Prenatal exposure to androgens is believed to have an effect on the structure of the brain, which in turn affects sexual orientation. Kruijver and Swaab (2002) and Motluck (2003) both found significant differences in three subregions of the brain when examining deceased heterosexual men, heterosexual women, and homosexual men. Both pieces of research show that the suprachiasmatic nucleus is larger in homosexual men than it is in heterosexual men or women. In contrast, heterosexual women and homosexual men have a smaller sexually dimorphic nucleus of the hypothalmus, when compared to heterosexual men. The third subregion both sets of research noted differences in was the anterior commissure. Interestingly, in homosexual men and heterosexual women, the anterior commissure was found to be larger than that of heterosexual males.
The Interaction between Hormones, the Body, and Behavior, Including Sex
Hormones are critical to not only the sexual development, sexual maturation, and body development, as discussed earlier, but they also have an important role to play when it comes to behavior, including sex. Once again, it is hormones that once the gender is determined by chromosomes that instructs the body on how to proceed to produce sexual dimorphism in a species. Internal and external sexual organs are all determined by hormones. As also discussed, it is hormones that turn on and guide the sexual maturation process. Although both genders produce a small amount of the other's hormone, it is the gender-specific hormone that creates the masculinity of males and the femininity of females. It's not surprising that it is hormones that also control behavior, including sex.
Carlson (2007) discusses the three categories of male mammal sexual behavior -- intromission, pelvic thrusting, and ejaculation. Each of these behaviors is affected by hormones. Oxytocin facilitates orgasm. Prolactin is the hormone that affects the refractory period in males. The hormones of progesterone and estradiol, according to Carlson, as well as Agmo, Choleris, Kavaliers, Pfaff, and Ogawa (2008), affect a females receptivity and proceptivity to sex, as well as their attractiveness to males.
Impact of Environment...
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