易性癖和左利手也许具有共同起源(下)
Presented with six everyday tasks--including cutting, throwing or writing--about 48% of non-transsexuals said they performed the tasks with their right hands only, compared with 44% of female transsexuals and just over 38% of male transsexuals. Even when the investigators looked only at transsexuals whose family members were solidly right-handed, the association remained.
Although it is possible that altered levels of prenatal sex hormones could play a role in this association, the UK team notes that other developmental factors--such as the mother's immune response to the fetus--could be involved.
Dr. Anne Lawrence, a Seattle clinical sexologist with a majority transsexual clientele, agreed, noting that "developmental instability could occur in the womb, it's just not necessarily associated with variations in the hormonal environment."
And what about transsexuals who are solidly right-handed? "One of the things we know about transsexuality is that it develops differently in different persons; this suggests that there might be more than just one cause," Lawrence--herself a transsexual--said in an interview with Reuters Health.
"There are a lot of different conditions that we believe might make someone choose a transsexual solution to their life-dilemma," she said. Developmental influences might play a role, but they might not necessarily be "the whole answer."
She believes that research into human sexuality--including transsexualism--is valuable for several reasons. Right now, she said, "we don't really have a consistent theory for transsexual orientation and gender identity development." And she notes that individuals also tend to be more accepting of non-traditional sexual orientations when they believe these preferences have their roots in biology, as opposed to some kind of "choice."
Finally, she added, Green and Young's research could point to possible ways of preventing or treating gender identity problems. "Of course that's very controversial," she said, "and I take no firm position on that except to say that this path is not easy for individuals--many transsexuals themselves will tell you that if their condition could have been prevented they would have preferred that.", 百拇医药
Although it is possible that altered levels of prenatal sex hormones could play a role in this association, the UK team notes that other developmental factors--such as the mother's immune response to the fetus--could be involved.
Dr. Anne Lawrence, a Seattle clinical sexologist with a majority transsexual clientele, agreed, noting that "developmental instability could occur in the womb, it's just not necessarily associated with variations in the hormonal environment."
And what about transsexuals who are solidly right-handed? "One of the things we know about transsexuality is that it develops differently in different persons; this suggests that there might be more than just one cause," Lawrence--herself a transsexual--said in an interview with Reuters Health.
"There are a lot of different conditions that we believe might make someone choose a transsexual solution to their life-dilemma," she said. Developmental influences might play a role, but they might not necessarily be "the whole answer."
She believes that research into human sexuality--including transsexualism--is valuable for several reasons. Right now, she said, "we don't really have a consistent theory for transsexual orientation and gender identity development." And she notes that individuals also tend to be more accepting of non-traditional sexual orientations when they believe these preferences have their roots in biology, as opposed to some kind of "choice."
Finally, she added, Green and Young's research could point to possible ways of preventing or treating gender identity problems. "Of course that's very controversial," she said, "and I take no firm position on that except to say that this path is not easy for individuals--many transsexuals themselves will tell you that if their condition could have been prevented they would have preferred that.", 百拇医药