Effects of sexual orientation in homo- and heterosexual men and women on brain structures.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhail Votinov ◽  
Katharina S. Goerlich
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Men And Women

scholarly journals How Gender Identity and Transgender Status Affect Perceptions of Attractiveness

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 811-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Mao ◽  
M. L. Haupert ◽  
Eliot R. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Gender Identity ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Gender Attitudes ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Transgender People ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Gender Nonconforming ◽  
Romantic Attraction ◽  
Identity Labels

Can a perceiver’s belief about a target’s transgender status (distinct from gender nonconforming appearance) affect perceptions of the target’s attractiveness? Cisgender, heterosexual men and women ( N = 319) received randomly assigned labels (cisgender cross-gender, transgender man, transgender woman, or nonbinary) paired with 48 cross-sex targets represented by photos and rated the attractiveness and related characteristics of those targets. The gender identity labels had a strong, pervasive effect on ratings of attraction. Nonbinary and especially transgender targets were perceived as less attractive than cisgender targets. The effect was particularly strong for male perceivers, and for women with traditional gender attitudes. Sexual and romantic attraction are not driven solely by sexed appearance; information about gender identity and transgender status also influences these assessments. These results have important implications for theoretical models of sexual orientation and for the dating lives of transgender people.

Precarious Sexuality: How Men and Women Are Differentially Categorized for Similar Sexual Behavior

2018 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trenton D. Mize ◽  
Bianca Manago
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Sexual Experience ◽  
Sexual History ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Sexual Encounter ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Heterosexual Woman ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Survey Experiments

Are men and women categorized differently for similar sexual behavior? Building on theories of gender, sexuality, and status, we introduce the concept of precarious sexuality to suggest that men’s—but not women’s—heterosexuality is an especially privileged identity that is easily lost. We test our hypotheses in a series of survey experiments describing a person who has a sexual experience conflicting with their sexual history. We find that a single same-sex sexual encounter leads an observer to question a heterosexual man’s sexual orientation to a greater extent than that of a heterosexual woman in a similar situation. We also find that a different-sex sexual encounter is more likely to change others’ perceptions of a lesbian woman’s sexual orientation—compared to perceptions of a gay man’s sexual orientation. In two conceptual replications, we vary the level of intimacy of the sexual encounter and find consistent evidence for our idea of precarious sexuality for heterosexual men. We close with a general discussion of how status beliefs influence categorization processes and with suggestions for extending our theoretical propositions to other categories beyond those of sexual orientation.

scholarly journals Sexual Orientation and Neuroanatomy: An MRI Study of Gray Matter Differences in Homosexual, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Women and Men

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Klimaj ◽  
Adam Safron ◽  
David Sylva ◽  
A.M. Rosenthal ◽  
Meng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Homosexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Women ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Whole Brain ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
Subcortical Volumes

In this study, we attempted to replicate past work focusing on differences in neuroanatomical structures between heterosexual and homosexual men and women. We also performed the first analyses of sexual orientation and neuroanatomy to include bisexual men and women. Sex differences in raw subcortical volumes were consistent with past work and a broader literature on sex differences, showing larger raw subcortical volumes in male groups than female groups. However, we did not confirm past findings showing larger raw volumes in heterosexual than in homosexual men in the left thalamus or right thalamus. Additionally, we did not confirm past findings showing thicker cortices in heterosexual men than in homosexual men in visual/occipital areas (right cuneus, right lingual gyrus, right pericalcarine cortex) or a frontal area (right pars triangularis). Exploratory whole-brain analyses revealed several areas of difference between women that may be of interest for future confirmatory research. Bisexual women had smaller volumes in a region of the olfactory tubercule than heterosexual women as well as a thicker right anterior insula region than homosexual women. Homosexual women had smaller volumes in regions of the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) than both heterosexual women and bisexual women. The functional relevance of these brain areas in terms of understanding female sexual orientation is unclear. However, based on these areas, future work may wish to consider the potential social, emotional, attentional, interoceptive, or general reward-related characteristics that may differentiate women with different attraction patterns. In contrast to previous work, no differences were found between groups of men (heterosexual, bisexual, or homosexual) in any of our analyses. Finally, in terms of whole-brain analyses of sex differences, heterosexual women had both thicker cortices and larger (relative to the whole brain) gray matter volume than heterosexual men in the superior frontal gyrus, in contrast to large-scale studies of sex difference. Although statistically significant at a stringent threshold (FWE-corrected), our whole-brain findings should be interpreted and generalized with caution. The heterogeneity of patterns across analyses of sexual orientation and brain structure (and even across studies of sex/gender and brain structure) suggests that findings may potentially depend upon particular sample characteristics, and potentially Type 1 error due to the testing of many different brain areas.

scholarly journals The association of sexual orientation with prostate, breast, and cervical cancer screening and diagnosis.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (28_suppl) ◽  
pp. 129-129
Author(s):  
Michael Joseph Herriges ◽  
Ruben Pinkhasov ◽  
Keren Lehavot ◽  
Oleg Shapiro ◽  
Joseph M Jacob ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Breast And Cervical Cancer ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Screening And Diagnosis

129 Background: Data on heterogeneity in cancer screening and diagnosis rates among lesbians/gays and bisexuals is lacking. Recent studies showed that lesbians/gays and bisexuals have decreased healthcare utilization compared to heterosexual counterparts and continue to experience discrimination in healthcare. Few studies have examined how sexual orientation impacts cancer screening and prevalence. We, therefore, investigated the association between sexual orientation and prevalent sex-specific cancer including prostate, breast, and cervical cancer. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey-based US study, including men and women aged 18+ from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) database between 2017-2019. The primary endpoint was individual-reported prostate, breast, and cervical cancer screening and prevalence rates among heterosexual and LGB men and women. Multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed association of various covariates with undergoing screening and diagnosis of these cancers. Results: Overall, 4,441 and 6,333 heterosexual men and women, respectively, were compared to 225 and 213 lesbian/gay and bisexual men and women, respectively. Lesbians/gays and bisexuals were younger and less likely to be screened for prostate, breast, and cervical cancer than heterosexuals. A higher proportion of heterosexual women than lesbian and bisexual women were screened for cervical cancer with pap smears (95.36% vs. 90.48% and 86.11%, p = < 0.001) and breast cancer with mammograms (80.74% vs. 63.81% and 45.37%, p = < 0.001). Similarly, a higher proportion of heterosexual men than gay and bisexual men were screened for prostate cancer with PSA blood tests (41.27% vs. 30.53% and 27.58%, p = < 0.001). Conclusions: Lesbians/gays and bisexuals in the US may be less likely to undergo screening of sex-specific prevalent malignancies, including prostate, breast, and cervical cancer. Healthcare professionals should be encouraged to improve cancer screening among lesbians/gays and bisexuals.

scholarly journals Male homosexuality and maternal immune responsivity to the Y-linked protein NLGN4Y

2017 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony F. Bogaert ◽  
Malvina N. Skorska ◽  
Chao Wang ◽  
José Gabrie ◽  
Adam J. MacNeil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Brain Development ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Male Homosexuality ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Older Brothers ◽  
Maternal Immune Response ◽  
Immune Assays

We conducted a direct test of an immunological explanation of the finding that gay men have a greater number of older brothers than do heterosexual men. This explanation posits that some mothers develop antibodies against a Y-linked protein important in male brain development, and that this effect becomes increasingly likely with each male gestation, altering brain structures underlying sexual orientation in their later-born sons. Immune assays targeting two Y-linked proteins important in brain development—protocadherin 11 Y-linked (PCDH11Y) and neuroligin 4 Y-linked (NLGN4Y; isoforms 1 and 2)—were developed. Plasma from mothers of sons, about half of whom had a gay son, along with additional controls (women with no sons, men) was analyzed for male protein-specific antibodies. Results indicated women had significantly higher anti-NLGN4Y levels than men. In addition, after statistically controlling for number of pregnancies, mothers of gay sons, particularly those with older brothers, had significantly higher anti-NLGN4Y levels than did the control samples of women, including mothers of heterosexual sons. The results suggest an association between a maternal immune response to NLGN4Y and subsequent sexual orientation in male offspring.

scholarly journals The Association of Sexual Orientation with Prostate, Breast, and Cervical Cancer Screening and Diagnosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Herriges ◽  
Ruben Pinkhasov ◽  
Keren Lehavot ◽  
Oleg Shapiro ◽  
Joseph M. Jacob ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Cervical Cancer Screening ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Breast And Cervical Cancer ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Screening And Diagnosis

Abstract PurposeData on heterogeneity in cancer screening and diagnosis rates among lesbians/gays and bisexuals (LGBs) is lacking. Recent studies showed that LGBs have decreased healthcare utilization compared to heterosexual counterparts. Few studies have examined how sexual orientation impacts cancer screening and prevalence. We, therefore, investigated the association between sexual orientation and prevalent sex-specific cancer including prostate (PCa), breast (BC), and cervical (CC) cancer.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional survey-based US study, including men and women aged 18+ from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) database between 2017-2019. The primary endpoint was individual-reported prostate, breast, and cervical cancer screening and prevalence rates among heterosexual and LGB men and women. Multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed association of various covariates with undergoing screening and diagnosis of these cancers.ResultsOverall, 4,441 and 6,333 heterosexual men and women, respectively, were compared to 225 and 213 LGB men and women, respectively. LGBs were younger and less likely to be screened for PCa, BC, and CC than heterosexuals. A higher proportion of heterosexual women than lesbian and bisexual women were screened for CC with pap smears (95.36% vs. 90.48% and 86.11%, p=<0.001) and BC with mammograms (80.74% vs. 63.81% and 45.37%, p=<0.001). Similarly, a higher proportion of heterosexual men than gay and bisexual men were screened for PCa with PSA blood tests (41.27% vs. 30.53% and 27.58%, p=<0.001). ConclusionThere were more heterosexuals than LGBs screened for CC, BC, and PCa. Healthcare professionals should be encouraged to improve cancer screening among LGBs.

scholarly journals How do you self-categorize? Gender and sexual orientation self-categorization in homosexual/heterosexual men and women

2018 ◽  
Vol 123 ◽  
pp. 135-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Fasoli ◽  
M. Cadinu ◽  
A. Carnaghi ◽  
S. Galdi ◽  
F. Guizzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Men And Women

scholarly journals Sexual orientation and cognitive ability: A multivariate meta-analytic follow-up

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin Xu ◽  
Sam Norton ◽  
Qazi Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Mental Rotation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Cognitive Domain ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Homosexual Men ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Heterosexual Women

A cross-sex shift model of human sexual orientation differences predicts that homosexual men should perform or score in the direction of heterosexual women, and homosexual women in the direction of heterosexual men, in behavioral domains such as cognition and personality. In order to test whether homosexual men and women’s cognitive performance was closer to that of heterosexual men or that of heterosexual women (i.e., sex atypical for their sex), we conducted a multivariate meta-analysis based on data from our previous meta-analysis (Xu, Norton, &amp; Rahman, 2017). A subset of this data was used and comprised a total of 49 samples and 251,393 participants. The multivariate meta-analysis revealed that homosexual men were indeed sex-atypical in mental rotation (Hedges’ g = -0.36) and the Water Level Test (Hedges’ g = -0.55). In mental rotation, homosexual men were somewhat in-between heterosexual men and women. There was no significant group difference on spatial location memory. Homosexual men were also sex atypical on male-favoring spatial-related tasks (Hedges’ g = -0.54), and female-favoring spatial-related tasks (Hedges’ g = 0.38). Homosexual women tended to be sex-typical (similar to heterosexual women). There were no significant group differences on male-favoring other tasks or female-favoring verbal-related tasks. Heterosexual men and women differed significantly on female-favoring other tasks. These results support the cross-sex shift hypothesis which predicts that homosexual men perform in the direction of heterosexual women in sex differentiated cognitive domains. However, the type of task and cognitive domain tested is critical.

Pharyngeal Flora in a Sexually Active Population

1995 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
J M Russell ◽  
B S Azadian ◽  
A P Roberts ◽  
C A Talboys
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Carriage Rate ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Charing Cross Hospital ◽  
Active Population ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
Yeast Isolation

During a 7-week period 1141 patients attending the Genitourinary Clinic at Charing Cross Hospital completed a brief questionnaire and had pharyngeal swabs cultured for Neisseria spp, β-haemolytic streptococci, corynebacterium and yeasts. The study included 397 heterosexual men, 492 heterosexual women, 189 homosexuals, 41 lesbians and 22 bisexual men and women. Four hundred and sixty patients (40%) admitted oro-genital contact in the preceding 2 weeks. The meningococcal carriage rate was 11.6%. Homosexuals had the highest carriage 23.8% and heterosexual females the lowest 5.9%. Significant differences in carriage rates were found between homosexual and heterosexual men ( P<0.0001), heterosexual men and women ( P<0.005) and between lesbian and heterosexual women ( P< 0.025). Recent oro-anal contact significantly increased meningococcal isolation ( P<0.001). A significant association between β-haemolytic streptococci and concomitant meningococcal carriage was also found ( P<0.01). Sexual orientation and oro-genital contact influences both meningococcal and pharyngeal yeast isolation and should be considered when interpreting pharyngeal culture results.

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