Psychosexual and psychosocial functions of anorchid young adults.
BACKGROUND
Prenatal exposure of the male fetus to androgen at wk 8-24 of gestation is essential for expression of male sex-typed behaviors in later life. Another peak of testosterone in male infants is demonstrated 1-5 months postnatally. The significance of this postnatal testosterone on male sex-typed behaviors remains to be elucidated. Bilateral congenital anorchia represents an example of an individual lacking postnatal testosterone. If postnatal testosterone surge is critical for male sex-typed behaviors, differences should be seen in this group of patients in comparison with men with functioning testes.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to examine the psychosexual function of males with anorchia.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study.


METHODS
The study was conducted at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, a referral center.


METHODS
Fifteen young male adults with anorchia and 15 healthy young males were enrolled in the study. All of them completed the same set of questionnaires evaluating general health and psychological health as well as sexuality. All had androgen replacement treatment to induce puberty and maintain adult androgen effect.


METHODS
General health, psychosocial, and psychosexual functionings according to the validated questionnaires were measured.


RESULTS
There were no differences in age, education, marital status, and identified gender between subjects and controls. No significant differences of general health, psychosocial, and psychosexual functionings of the subjects with anorchia and healthy young adults were demonstrated.


CONCLUSIONS
A postnatal testosterone surge does not seem to be critical for male-typed sexual behaviors in men with anorchia when adolescent testosterone replacement has occurred.
Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne 3052, Australia.
Preamrudee
P
Poomthavorn
Robyn
R
Stargatt
Margaret
M
Zacharin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult