The use of digit ratios as markers for perinatal androgen action |
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Authors: | Matthew H McIntyre |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA |
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Abstract: | Since the ratio of the second-to-fourth finger length was first proposed as a marker for prenatal androgen action in 1998,
over 100 studies have been published that have either further tested the association between the digit ratio and prenatal
androgens, or employed digit ratios as a marker to investigate the association between prenatal androgens and a variety of
outcomes, including behavior, fertility, and disease risks. Despite the clear demand for an adult marker of prenatal androgen
action and increased use of digit ratios as such a marker, its validity remains controversial. This review (1) evaluates current
evidence for the relationship between digit ratios and prenatal androgens (using experimentation with animal models, amniotic
testosterone, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia case-control studies), (2) describes opportunities for future validation
tests, and (3) compares the potential advantages and disadvantages of digit ratio measures with more established methods for
studying the effects of prenatal androgens. |
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Keywords: | |
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