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Journal Article 2008; 29(1): 3-10 PubMed PMID: 18283257 Citation  Keywords:  Brain:physiology, Female, Gonadal Steroid Hormones:physiology, Humans, Male, Sex Characteristics, Sexual Behavior:physiology, Sexuality:physiology,.   

: Studies on human sexuality are considered to be extremely difficult. Moreover, their results appear often unclear and contradictory. Sexuality is perceived as the identity, feelings and behavior associated with sex. Different assumptions concerning its mechanisms are made by researchers in the field of neuroendocrinology, endocrinology and psychology, and their tests' results help to describe human sexuality. Since the second half of the 20th century efforts of describing sexuality have been made, but they are still imperfect. There are no current research methods which allow for separation of sexual functions or sex-related behavior in a human, and for their description. It should be remembered, however, that the very awareness of taking part in such examination can have meaningful impact on the tests' results. What is more, the patient's emotional state can also alter the results. In this paper, current results on sexual steroids' place in forming human sexuality and its role in an adult human being life are presented. The cognition of the complete role of testosterone, estradiol and progesterone in forming human sexuality is considered to be the challenge for researchers in the following years....

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Clinical Trial 2004; 25(4): 297-301 PubMed PMID: 15361821 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Brain:physiology, Female, Homosexuality:physiology, Humans, Male, Sex Characteristics, Sex Differentiation, Sexual Behavior:physiology, Sexual Partners:psychology, Surveys and Questionnaires,.   

OBJECTIVES: The current study examined and compared the preferred partner characteristics of heterosexual and homosexual men and women in relation to speculated patterns of brain differentiation underlying the preferences. Further, the study compared the preferences of butch versus femme homosexual women.

METHODS: Two hundred twelve heterosexual and homosexual men and women completed questionnaires on which they rated themselves and their idealized sexual partners on various morphological and behavioral characteristics.

RESULTS: Results of within-subjects multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) showed that the pattern of preferred partner characteristics of heterosexual women is most consistent with the theorized brain differentiation underlying those preferences. There was varying support for the theory as it applies to the other three groups. Between-subjects MANOVAs provided evidence to support some of the predictions generated by theory on the differences in brain differentiation between heterosexual and homosexual men and women and between homosexual women categorized as butch and femme.

CONCLUSION: The overall pattern of preferred partner characteristics among and between heterosexual and homosexual men and women does not support theory that holds that underlying brain differentiation between the groups is discrete and categorical. Rather, it supports theory that holds that differentiation manifests itself on a continuum leading to a variety of patterns of sexual orientation, and by extension, preferred partner characteristics....

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