{"id":296099,"date":"2023-08-11T08:39:06","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T13:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=296099"},"modified":"2023-08-09T19:24:34","modified_gmt":"2023-08-10T00:24:34","slug":"transgender-ideology-threatening-health-safety-preborn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/transgender-ideology-threatening-health-safety-preborn\/","title":{"rendered":"Is transgender ideology threatening the health and safety of preborn humans?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A group of transgender sociologists without medical degrees has released a study<\/a> in which they promote the use of testosterone for pregnant biological women identifying as men \u2014 despite the known health risks to their preborn children.<\/p>\n

In the study’s findings, the authors claim that doctors who advise caution<\/em> regarding testosterone use in their pregnant male-identifying patients are being influenced by discriminatory beliefs rather than scientific research. These doctors are labeled by the study’s authors as “cisnormative and judgmental,” focused on “center normative development of trans offspring” and are accused of characterizing the “trans patients’ pursuit of testosterone therapy during pregnancy as illicit or selfish.” The authors also state that such patients “grapple with what it means to protect their offspring from becoming anything other than ‘normal'” due to the known effects of testosterone on the developing child.<\/p>\n

Known effects of testosterone during pregnancy<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s important to note that the use of testosterone in the female body makes it difficult<\/a> to become pregnant in the first place and women who identify as men but wish to become pregnant may be advised to pause testosterone use in order to become pregnant.<\/p>\n

Planned Parenthood, which sells cross-sex hormones to patients, states on its website<\/a>, “[S]ome trans men’s [biological women’s] ability to get pregnant might decrease after taking testosterone for a while…” Therefore, the study appears to advocate for the resumed<\/em> use of testosterone once pregnancy is achieved.<\/p>\n

This is problematic because testosterone is a teratogen \u2014 a substance known to interfere with embryonic and fetal development and to cause congenital disabilities. Teratogens also increase the risk of miscarriage, preterm labor, and stillbirth. Alcohol and drugs are other examples of teratogenic substances.<\/p>\n

According to research<\/a>, exposure to excess testosterone in the womb is also known to cause the development of male physical characteristics in female children including body hair, a deep voice, larger muscles, and irregular genitals.<\/p>\n

“It is well-established that prenatal exposure to androgens, such as testosterone, can cause genital defects in females,” explained<\/a> Jennifer Lahl, MA, BSN, RN and Kallie Fell, MS, BSN, RN. They continued:<\/p>\n

Androgens act as masculinizing hormones, guiding the formation of male genitalia and inhibiting the development of a vaginal opening in males. Consequently, medical practitioners are not displaying ‘cisnormativity and judgment’ in their handling of ‘trans’ patients regarding testosterone ‘therapy’; they are fulfilling their ethical duties of beneficence and non-maleficence. Given the known effects of testosterone on a developing fetus, a conservative, precautionary approach is duly warranted.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yet, the study undermines these documented health effects as “theoretical or hypothetical” and states, “In the context of medical uncertainty around testosterone therapy during pregnancy, providers offered rationales for following a precautionary approach that centers normative fetal development and advises pausing testosterone therapy.”<\/p>\n

After childbirth, the use of testosterone also interferes with a biological woman’s ability to produce breast milk. The La Leche League states that “testosterone interferes with the hormone necessary for lactation (prolactin) and can cause a significant decrease in milk supply.”<\/p>\n

In addition, little to no information is known about the effects of testosterone on a pregnant woman’s own health.<\/p>\n