Friday 11 March 2016

In Summary

Too many times I've seen assertions in Op-Eds and comments that "there is no evidence for a biological origin for transsexuality". Sometimes it's "no evidence whatsover",  sometimes "no convincing evidence", "no peer-reviewed evidence". The impression is given that there's only one or two papers written by pay-for-comment idealogues in vanity press publications, if anything, and probably not even that.


The truth is rather different. Evidence Supporting the Biologic Nature of Gender Identity Saraswat et al, Endocrine Practice: February 2015, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 199-204.

Objective: To review current literature that supports a biologic basis of gender identity.
Methods: A traditional literature review.
Results: Evidence that there is a biologic basis for gender identity primarily involves (1) data on gender identity in patients with disorders of sex development (DSDs, also known as differences of sex development) along with (2) neuroanatomical differences associated with gender identity.
Conclusions: Although the mechanisms remain to be determined, there is strong support in the literature for a biologic basis of gender identity.
 "Strong support" - like there's "Strong support" for the theory that the Earth isn't flat. It's about as close to certainty as you'll find in any scientific publication.

3 comments:

Hazumu Osaragi said...

I'm waiting for a few court cases with the hope that the transgender issue gets its Hollingsworth v. Perry, where science fact gets weighed against fear/disgust-driven assertions.

Anonymous said...

I've been diagnosed as being transgender. I'm also intersex, having been born with a fetal ovary and a normal but smaller that normal testis. I also had female bits and pieces removed when I came down with ovarian cancer.
The doctors at the university of Minnesota clinic for sexual health have treated me. For this in addition to the mayo clinic.
In my mind there really isn't any difference between transsexual and some intersex people. Yes I realize not all intersex conditions are the same. I always make that disclaimer that only a few intersex conditions have parallels with the transgender community.

Hannah. hannahsometime@yahoo.com

kontol said...

I've been diagnosed as being transgender. I'm also intersex, having been born with a fetal ovary and a normal but smaller that normal testis. I also had female bits and pieces removed when I came down with ovarian cancer.
The doctors at the university of Minnesota clinic for sexual health have treated me. For this in addition to the mayo clinic.
In my mind there really isn't any difference between transsexual and some intersex people. Yes I realize not all intersex conditions are the same. I always make that disclaimer that only a few intersex conditions have parallels with the transgender community.