Genderrol gedrag bij meisjes met congenitale adrenogenitale hyperplasie

In the literature (Ehrhardt et al. 1974) the difference in gender role behaviour between CAH girls and control girls is described as tomboy behaviour. By tomboy behaviour in girls with CAH is meant: - expression of physical energy in outdoor games and sports - preference for playing with boys' toys rather than with girl s and girls' toys little interest in marriage, pregnancy, motherhoed and caring for young children - a preferenee for casual clothes (particularly trousers) and a minimal interest in jewelry, makeup and different hairstyles - the wish to be a boy rather than a girl. The explanation of this tomboy behaviour is sought by Ehrhardt et al. in the action of the male hormone. According to these authors, prenatally the male hormone has an imprinting effect on the central nerveus system, which gives rise to tomboy behaviour. As there has been na research into the influence of psychosocial factors, particularly sickness factors and parents' doubts about the sex of the child as aresult of the deviant genitalia, our research has been directed to the study of these factors. A group of girls with CAH was compared with a group of healthy girls (control girls), a group of sick girls (girls with diabetes) and a group of sisters of CAH children. Similarly, CAH boys were compared with control boys, boys with diabetes and brathers of CAH children. In order to be able to measure the gender role behaviour of CAH girls an instrument was developed - the Sophia test - 'Ihich is based on the aspects of gender role behaviour distinguished by Erhardt et al. The Sophia test is composed of 5 parts: - pictures - assertions - questions - Osgood - drawin

Effects of perinatal exposure to PCBs and dioxins on play behavior in Dutch children at school age

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins are known as neurotoxic compounds that may modulate sex steroid hormones. Steroid hormones play a mediating role in brain development and may influence behaviors that show sex differences, such as childhood play behavior. In this study we evaluated the effects of perinatal exposure to environmental levels of PCBs and dioxins on childhood play behavior and whether the effects showed sex differences. As part of the follow-up to the Dutch PCB/dioxin study at school age, we used the Pre-School Activity Inventory (PSAI) to assess play behavior in the Rotterdam cohort (n = 207). The PSAI assesses masculine or feminine play behavior scored on three subscales: masculine, feminine, and composite. Prenatal exposure to PCBs was defined as the sum of PCB 118, 138, 153, and 180 in maternal and cord plasma and breast milk. For breast milk we measured additional PCBs as well as 17 dioxins. Respondents returned 160 questionnaires (age 7.5 years +/- 0.4). Effects of prenatal exposure to PCBs, measured in maternal and cord plasma, on the masculine and composite scales were different for boys and girls (p <.05). In boys, higher prenatal PCB levels were related with less masculinized play, assessed by the masculine scale (p(maternal) =.042; p(cord) =.001) and composite scale (p(cord) =.011), whereas in girls higher PCB levels were associated with more masculinized play, assessed by the composite scale (p(PCBmilk) =.028). Higher prenatal dioxin levels were associated with more feminized play in boys as well as girls, assessed by the feminine scale (p =.048). These effects suggest prenatal steroid hormone imbalances caused by prenatal exposure to environmental levels of PCBs, dioxins, and other related organochlorine compounds

Satisfaction with penile appearance after hypospadias surgery: The patient and surgeon view

Purpose: We studied the degree of agreement between hypospadias patient and surgeon satisfaction with the cosmetic surgical result, and the relation between penile length, meatal position and patient satisfaction. Materials and Methods: Cosmetic and functional results in 35 boys with hypospadias were assessed, and a standardized questionnaire was completed by patients and surgeon. Results: There was hardly any agreement between patient and surgeon satisfaction with patient penile appearance. Patients were less satisfied than the surgeon. No significant correlation was noted between penile satisfaction and penile length. Patients with a retracted meatus were less satisfied with the meatal position than those with a glanular meatus. Of the 35 patients 4 underwent repeat surgery after our study. Conclusions: Hypospadias surgeons should explicitly ask if patients are satisfied and they should follow patients through adolescence