Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sexual orientation after prenatal exposure to exogenous estrogen

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Thirty women aged 17 to 30 years with documented prenatal exposure to the nonsteroidal synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) were compared to thirty women of similar demographic characteristics from the same medical clinic who had a history of abnormal Pap smear findings. A subsample of the DES women were also compared to their DES-unexposed sisters. Sexual orientation in its multiple components was assessed by systematic semistructured interviews. In comparison to both control groups, the DES women showed increased bisexuality and homosexuality. However, about 75% of the DES women were exclusively or nearly exclusively heterosexual. Nonhormonal and hormonal interpretations of these findings are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beach, F. A. (1979). Animal models for human sexuality. InSex, Hormones and Behaviour, Ciba Foundation Symposium 62 (new series), Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, pp. 113–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Döhler, K.-D., Hines, M., Coquelin, A., Davis, F., Shryne, J. E., and Gorski, R. A. (1982). Pre- and postnatal influence of diethylstilboestrol on differentiation of the sexually dimorphic nucleus in the preoptic area of the female rat brain.Neuroendocrinol. Lett. 4: 361–365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorfman, R. I. (1967). The antiestrogenic and antiandrogenic activites of progesterone in the defense of a normal fetus.Anat. Rec. 157: 547–557.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dörner, G. (1968). Hormonal induction and prevention of female homosexuality.J. Endocrinol. 42: 163–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dörner, G. (1976).Hormones and Brain Differentiation. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Eaton, G. G., Goy, R. W., and Phoenix, C. H. (1973). Effects of testosterone treatment in adulthood on sexual behavior of female pseudohermaphrodite rhesus monkeys.Nature (New Biol.) 242: 119–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehrhardt, A. A. (1979). Psychosexual adjustment in adolescence in patients with congenital abnormalities of their sex organs. In Vallet, H. L. and Porter, I. H. (eds.),Genetic Mechanisms of Sexual Development Birth Defects Institute Symposia, Academic Press, New York, pp. 473–484.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehrhardt, A. A., and Baker, S. W. (1974). Fetal androgen, human central nervous system differentiation, and behavior sex differences. In Friedman, R. C., Richart, R. M., and Vande Wiele, R. L. (eds.),Sex Differences in Behavior John Wiley, New York, pp. 33–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehrhardt, A. A., and Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L. (1981). Effects of prenatal sex hormones on gender-related behavior.Science 211: 1312–1318.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrhardt, A. A., Evers, K., and Money, J. (1968). Influence of androgen and some aspects of sexually dimorphic behavior in women with the late-treated adrenogenital syndrome.Johns Hopkins Med. J. 123: 115–122.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrhardt, A. A., Grisanti, G. C., and Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L. (1977). Prenatal exposure to medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) in girls.Psychoneuroendrocrinology 2: 391–398.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehrhardt, A. A., Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L., Feldman, J. F., and Ince, S. E. (1984). Sex-dimorphic behavior subsequent to prenatal exposure to exogenous progestogens and estrogens.Arch. Sex. Behav. 13: 457–477.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fuller, G. B., Yates, D. E., Helton, E. D., and Hobson, W. C. (1981). Diethylstilbestrol reversal of gonadotropin patterns in infant rhesus monkeys.J. Steroid Biochem. 15: 497–500.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goy, R. W., and Resko, J. A. (1972). Gonadal hormones and behavior of normal and pseudohermaphroditic nonhuman female primates. In Astwood, E. B. (ed.),Recent Progress in Hormone Research Academic Press, New York, London, pp. 707–733.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbst, A. L., Ulfelder, H., and Poskanzer, D. C. (1971). Association of maternal stilbestrol therapy with tumor appearance in young women.New Engl. J. Med. 284: 878–881.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hines, M. (1982). Prenatal gonadal hormones and sex differences in human behavior.Psychol. Bull. 92: 56–80.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hines, M., Döhler, K.-D., and Gorski, R. A. (1982a). Rough play in female rats following preand postnatal treatment with diethylstilbestrol or testosterone. Fourteenth Conference on Reproductive Behavior, East Lansing, Michigan, June 6–9, 1982, Abstracts, p. 66.

  • Hines, M., Alsum, P., Gorski, R. A., and Goy, R. W. (1982b). Prenatal exposure to estrogen masculinizes and defeminizes behavior in the guinea pig (abstract).Abstr. Soc. Neurosci. 8: 196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollingshead, A. B. (1975).Four Factor Index of Social Status. Working Paper. Department of Sociology, Yale University, June 1975.

  • Kester, P., Green, R., Finch, S. J., and Williams, K. (1980). Prenatal “female hormone” administration and psychosexual development in human males.Psychoneuroendocrinology 5: 269–285.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kincl, F. A., and Maqueo, M. (1965). Prevention by progesterone of steroid-induced sterility in neonatal male and female rats.Endocrinology 77: 859–862.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., and Martin, C. E. (1948).Sexual Behavior in the Human Male. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., Martin, C. E., and Gebhard, P. H. (1953).Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • McEwen, B. S. (1983). Gonadal steroid influences on brain development and sexual differentiation. In Greep, R. O. (ed.),Reproductive Physiology IV University Park Press, Baltimore, pp. 99–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • McEwen, B. S., Lieberburg, I., Chaptal, C., Davis, P. G., Krey, L. C., MacLusky, N. J., and Roy, E. J. (1979). Attenuating the defeminization of the neonatal rat brain: Mechanisms of action of cyproterone acetate, 1, 4, 6-androstatriene-3, 17,-dione and a synthetic progestin, R5020.Horm. Behav. 13: 269–281.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L. (1977). Sex hormones and male homosexuality in comparative perspective.Arch. Sex. Behav. 6: 297–325.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L. (1979). Sex hormones and female homosexuality: A critical examination.Arch. Sex. Behav. 8: 101–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L. (in press). Psychoendocrine research on sexual orientation. Current status and future options.Prog. Brain Res., pp. 367–390.

  • Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L., Ehrhardt, A. A., Feldman, J. F., Rosen, L. R., Viridiano, N. P., & Zimmerman, I. (In press). Sexual activity level and sexual dysfunction in women prenatally exposed to diethylstilbestrol. Psychosom. Med.

  • Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L., and Ehrhardt, A. A. (1982). Prenatal sex hormones and human aggression: A review, and new data on progestogen effects.Aggress. Behav. 8: 39–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L., and Ehrhardt, A. A. (1983).Sexual Behavior Assessment Schedule—Adult (SEBAS-A) (1983 ed.), © 1983 Heino F. L. Meyer-Bahlburg and Anke A. Ehrhardt.

  • Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L., Grisanti, G. C., and Ehrhardt, A. A. (1977). Prenatal effects of sex hormones on human male behavior: Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA).Psychoneuroendocrinology 2: 383–390.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L., Ehrhardt, A. A., Rosen, L. R., Feldman, J. F., Veridiano, N. P., Zimmerman, I., and McEwen, B. S. (1984). Psychosexual milestones in women prenatally exposed to diethylstilbestrol.Horm. Behav. 18: 359–366.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L., Ehrhardt, A. A., Feldman, J. F., Rosen, L. R., Veridiano, N. P., & Zimmerman, I. (In press). Sexual activity level and sexual dysfunction in women prenatally exposed to diethylstilbestrol.Psychosom. Med.

  • Money, J., and Ehrhardt, A. A. (1972).Man and Woman, Boy and Girl. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Money, J., and Schwartz, M. (1977). Dating, romantic and nonromantic friendships, and sexuality in 17 early-treated adrenogenital females, aged 16–25. In Lee, P. A., Plotnick, L. P., Kowarski, A. A., and Migeon, C. J. (eds.),Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia University Park Press, Baltimore, pp. 419–431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monroe, J. A., and Silva, D. A. (1982). Effects of neonatal diethylstilbestrol (DES) on adult male rats' sexual behavior. Paper presented at the 90th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C., August 22–27, 1982.

  • O'Brien, P. C., Noller, K. L., Robboy, S. J., Barnes, A. B., Kaufman, R. H., Tilley, B. C., and Townsend, D. E. (1979). Vaginal epithelial changes in young women enrolled in the National Cooperative Diethylstilbestrol Adenosis (DESAD) Project.Obstet. Gynecol. 53: 300–308.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peress, M. R., Tsai, C. C., Mathur, R. S., and Williamson, H. O. (1982). Hirsutism and menstrual patterns in women exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero.Amer. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 144: 135–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phoenix, C. H., and Chambers, K. C. (1982). Sexual behavior in adult gonadectomized female pseudohermaphrodite, female, and male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) treated with estradiol benzoate and testosterone propionate.J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 96: 823–833.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Plapinger, L., and McEwen, B. S. (1978). Gonadal steroid-brain interactions in sexual differentiation. In Hutchison, J. B. (ed.),Biological Determinants of Sexual Behavior John Wiley, New York, pp. 153–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinisch, J. M. (1981). Prenatal exposure to synthetic progestins increases potential for aggression in humans.Science 211: 1171–1173.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rent, C. S., Rent, G. S., and Northcutt, T. J., Jr. (1972). Behavioral factors related to the onset of cervical cancer.J. Health Soc. Behav. 13: 437–445.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rotkin, I. D. (1973). A comparison review of key epidemiological studies in cervical cancer related to current searches for transmissable agents.Cancer Res. 33: 1353–1367.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, D., and Bancroft, J. (1982). Hormones and the sexuality of women—the menstrual cycle.Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 11: 639–659.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, M. F., and Money, J. (1983). Dating, romance and sexuality in young adult adrenogenital females (abstract).Neuroendocrinol. Lett. 5: 132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slaughter, M., Wilen, R., Ryan, K. J., and Naftolin, F. (1977). The effects of low dose diethylstilbestrol administration in neonatal female rats.J. Steroid Biochem. 8: 621–623.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slikker, W., Jr., Hill, D. E., and Young, J. F. (1982). Comparison of the transplacental pharmacokinetics of 17β-estradiol and diethylstilbestrol in the subhuman primate.J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 221: 173–182.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steiner, R. A., Clifton, D. K., Spies, H. G., and Resko, J. A. (1976). Sexual differentiation and feedback control of luteinizing hormone secretion in the rhesus monkey.Biol. Reprod. 15: 206–212.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Storms, M. D. (1981). A theory of erotic orientation development.Psychol. Rev. 88: 340–353.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thornton, J. E., and Goy, R. W. (1983). Female sexual behavior of adult hermaphroditic rhesus (abstract). Conference on Reproductive Behavior, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, June 4–7, 1983, Program and Abstracts, p. 21.

  • Wechsler, D. (1955).Manual for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The Psychological Corporation, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (1981).Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The Psychological Corporation, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, C. H., Mangan, C. E., Burtnett, M. M., and Mikhail, G. (1980). Plasma hormones in DES-exposed females.Obstet. Gynecol. 55: 157–162.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yalom, I. D., Green, R., and Fisk, N. (1973). Prenatal exposure to female hormones.Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 28: 554–561.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 722 West 168th Street, 10032, New York, New York, USA

    Anke A. Ehrhardt Ph.D., Heino F. L. Meyer-Bahlburg Dr.rer.nat., Laura R. Rosen M.A. & Judith F. Feldman Ph.D.

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, 11212, Brooklyn, New York, USA

    Norma P. Veridiano M.D. & I. Zimmerman

  3. Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, 10021, New York, New York, USA

    Bruce S. McEwen Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Anke A. Ehrhardt Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Heino F. L. Meyer-Bahlburg Dr.rer.nat.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Laura R. Rosen M.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Judith F. Feldman Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Norma P. Veridiano M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. I. Zimmerman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Bruce S. McEwen Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This research was supported in part by U.S.P.H.S. research grants MH-34635 (NIMH), Y01-CN-00711 (NCI), and MH-30906 (NIMH).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ehrhardt, A.A., Meyer-Bahlburg, H.F.L., Rosen, L.R. et al. Sexual orientation after prenatal exposure to exogenous estrogen. Arch Sex Behav 14, 57–77 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541353

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541353

Key words

Search

Navigation