Xenoestrogen
Xenoestrogens are clinically significant because they can mimic the effects of endogenous estrogen and thus have been implicated in precocious puberty and other disorders of the reproductive system.
Hormones and Brain Differentiation
Dörner discusses the endocrine system and the effects of castration. According to Dörner, research on animals shows that "the direction of sex drive can be changed, at least in part, by intrahypothalamic sex hormone implantations or hypothalamic lesions." He argues that "an important preventative therapy of sexual differentiation disturbances" could be achieved through "administration of androgens in gonosomal male foetuses with androgen deficiency during the critical differentiation periods of genital organs and, in particular, of the brain." Dörner notes that there are possible arguments against a program to prevent homosexuality, including the fact that "numerous prominent personalities" of the past were homosexuals, including some who were "outstanding poets, painters, or composers." However, he defends his proposal on the grounds that 25% of homosexuals attempt suicide and that "a great number of males and females with inborn sexual deviations are suffering from psychosexual pressure." Dörner writes that he had received letters from unhappy transsexuals and homosexuals, and that in his view the medical profession has a responsibility to ease their suffering.