title: Sexual orientation and medical history among Iranian people with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.
abstract: To report sexual orientation, relationship status and medical history of Iranian people with Differences of Sex Development (DSD) who were raised female.
  
  
  
  Our participants consisted of nineteen 46,XY individuals with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) and eighteen 46,XX individuals with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) who were raised as females and older than 13years. As well as their relationship status and detailed medical history, an expert psychiatrist assessed their sexual orientation by a semi-structured psychiatric interview with them and, where applicable, their parents.
  
  
  
  Five percent of CAH participants and 42% of CAIS participants were in a relationship, which was significantly different. All CAH individuals had been diagnosed at birth; 89% of CAIS had been diagnosed after puberty and due to primary amenorrhea and 11% were diagnosed in childhood due to inguinal hernia. Genital reconstructive surgery had been performed in 100% of CAH participants and 37% of CAIS. Regarding sexual contact experiences and sexual fantasies (androphilic, gynephilic or both), no significant differences were found. However, CAH females had significantly more gynephilic dreams (P=0.045).
  
  
  
  This study, notable as one of the rare from a non-western culture, described sexual, medical and socioeconomic status of 46,XX CAH and 46,XY CAIS individuals living in Iran. Although broadly in line with previous findings from Western cultures, Iranian CAH individuals had fewer romantic relationships, but in contrast to previous studies their sexual orientation was only different from CAIS in the contents of sexual dreams.
authors.affiliation: Transgender Studies Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: sorourib2@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Behzad S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Khorashad
authors.affiliation: Transgender Studies Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: Roshan.g2006@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ghasem M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Roshan
authors.affiliation: Molecular Pathology Unit, Liverpool Clinical Laboratories, Liverpool, UK. Electronic address: alistair.reid@rlbuht.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Alistair G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: Transgender Studies Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: Zahra.aghili@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Aghili
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: hiradfarm@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiradfar
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: AfkhamizadehM@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mozhgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afkhamizadeh
authors.affiliation: Transgender Studies Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: talaeia@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talaei
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: aarabia1@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aarabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: ghaemin@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Nosrat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ghaemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: n_taghehchian@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Negin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taghehchian
authors.affiliation: Transgender Studies Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: hedieh.saberi92@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hedieh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saberi
authors.affiliation: Transgender Studies Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: nazaninffrh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nazanin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farahi
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: abbaszadeganmr@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Abbaszadegan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000312:Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D013734:Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome; Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia; Disorders of sexual development; Sexual orientation