Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Is arginine vasotocin associated with male identity and sexuality?

Arginine vasotocin (AVT) has been associated with male-typical behavior in vertbrates as it pertains to sexual courtship. Likewise, manipulative studies have shown this behavior can be altered in response to experimentally assigned levels of AVT. In conjunction with testosterone, do you think this hormonal combination produces male sexuality? AVT acts within the BST region of the hypothalamus, noted to be sexually dimorphic, according to transsexual studies. In addition, testosterone replacement therapy maintains an ambiguous correlation with the sexuality of those who receive the hormone, and has only been confirmed to increase libido in both men and women. Thus, could AVT be the missing link required to understand male gender identity and sexual response. Likewise, have there been any studies performed, translating these observations with animals into human behavior?

It could be. It sounds interesting. Yes, the BST is dimorphic, according to the Zhou study, where MtF true-transsexuals had the same neurons there as women born without the TS condition. And the gay men had the same number as men (or slightly more in the male direction).

Yes, testosterone is only part of the story, since both men and women can be virilized with it.

WVU Health Report — New HRT Study

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