Behzad S Khorashad1, Ghasem M Roshan2, Alistair G Reid3, Zahra Aghili4, Mehran Hiradfar5, Mozhgan Afkhamizadeh6, Ali Talaei7, Azadeh Aarabi8, Nosrat Ghaemi9, Negin Taghehchian10, Hedieh Saberi11, Nazanin Farahi12, Mohammad Reza Abbaszadegan13. 1. 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. 2. Transgender Studies Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: Roshan.g2006@yahoo.com. 3. Molecular Pathology Unit, Liverpool Clinical Laboratories, Liverpool, UK. Electronic address: alistair.reid@rlbuht.nhs.uk. 4. 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. 5. Department of Pediatric Surgery, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: hiradfarm@mums.ac.ir. 6. Endocrine Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: AfkhamizadehM@mums.ac.ir. 7. 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. 8. Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: aarabia1@mums.ac.ir. 9. Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: ghaemin@mums.ac.ir. 10. Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: n_taghehchian@yahoo.com. 11. Transgender Studies Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: hedieh.saberi92@gmail.com. 12. Transgender Studies Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: nazaninffrh@gmail.com. 13. Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: abbaszadeganmr@mums.ac.ir.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report sexual orientation, relationship status and medical history of Iranian people with Differences of Sex Development (DSD) who were raised female. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSION: 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.
OBJECTIVE: To report sexual orientation, relationship status and medical history of Iranian people with Differences of Sex Development (DSD) who were raised female. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSION: 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.