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Gender transformations happen naturally, but what could cause transgender numbers to skyrocket exponentially? Scientists were shocked to discover synthetic estrogen exposure during pregnancy leads to transgender identity at up to 100 times the norm

A new study uncovered shockingly high rates of male-to-female transgender identity in adults exposed prenatally to the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES).1 Approved to prevent miscarriage from 1940-1971 despite lack of evidence, DES left a tragic legacy of reproductive abnormalities and rare vaginal cancers in the daughters exposed.2 Sons also suffered increased rates of genital defects.3 Yet past studies of DES health effects overlooked psychological outcomes. Researchers now report that among French sons prenatally exposed to DES, an alarming 1.58% identified as transgender women.4 This exceeds the highest estimates for transgender prevalence in the general population by 10-100 times!5

In the study, researchers identified 4 transgender women from a pool of 253 DES-exposed sons, versus none among 148 unexposed sons of the same mothers.6 They compiled thorough medical histories of each case, finding remarkably consistent themes.7 All experienced strong gender discordance from early childhood, severe mental health issues after puberty, and ultimately underwent gender transition.  

This high prevalence after prenatal DES adds to existing evidence that early hormone environment shapes gender identity development.8 Animal studies demonstrate hormone-disrupting chemicals can alter sex-specific brain wiring and behavior.9 In humans, transgender identity occurs at higher rates in intersex conditions involving hormone anomalies.10 The researchers thus proposed DES may disturb the usual testosterone masculinization of the male fetal brain, increasing odds of a female gender identity.11

Past prenatal exposures like DES foreshadow similar risks from the growing burden of endocrine disruptors today.12 Safeguarding healthy prenatal development allows natural gender identity to unfold.

References

1. Laura Gaspari et al., "Early Female Transgender Identity after Prenatal Exposure to Diethylstilbestrol," Journal of Xenobiotics 14 (January 12, 2024), https://doi.org/10.3390/jox14010010.

2. Retha R. Newbold, "Lessons Learned from Perinatal Exposure to Diethylstilbestrol," Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 199, no. 2 (October 1, 2004): 142-50, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2004.01.033.

 

3. Michel Tournaire et al., "Histoire Du Diéthylstilbestrol," Therapie 69, no. 2 (April 2014): 101-14, https://doi.org/10.2515/therapie/2014008.

4. Julie R. Palmer et al., "Urogenital Abnormalities in Men Exposed to Diethylstilbestrol in Utero: A Cohort Study," Environmental Health 8 (August 5, 2009): 37, https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-8-37.

5. Qing Zhang et al., "Epidemiological Considerations in Transgender Health: A Systematic Review with Focus on Higher Quality Data," International Journal of Transgender Health 21, no. 2 (2020): 125-37, https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2020.1753136.

6. Margaret M. McCarthy, "Origins of Sex Differentiation of Brain and Behavior," in Developmental Neuroendocrinology, ed. Stuart Wray and Seth Blackshaw (Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2020), 393-412, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46017-5_19.

7. Gian Carlo Panzica et al., "Effects of Xenoestrogens on the Differentiation of Behaviorally Relevant Neural Circuits in Higher Vertebrates," Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1163 (May 2009): 271-78, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2008.03619.x.

8. Jon Arcelus et al., "Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence Studies in Transsexualism," European Psychiatry 30, no. 6 (September 2015): 807-15, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.04.005.

9. Laura N. Vandenberg et al., "Consensus on the Key Characteristics of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals as a Basis for Hazard Identification," Nature Reviews Endocrinology 16, no. 1 (January 2020): 45-57, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-019-0273-8.

 

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