New Clue To Transsexuality (Press, 11 January 1980)
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Summary: New Clue To Transsexuality (Press, 11 January 1980)
In a significant revelation presented at the Fourth World Congress of Sexology in Mexico City, researchers have identified a potential biological factor that differentiates transsexuals from cisgender individuals. Dr Wolf Eicher from Munich led the presentation, highlighting findings that suggest the absence of a specific element known as H-Y antigen in the skin and serum tissue of males who wish to transition to female. The study indicates that while transsexual women possess the H-Y antigen, it is markedly absent in men seeking to change their sex. This discovery implies that the H-Y antigen may play a crucial role in determining the biological sex of embryos and possibly influences the feelings of discontent some individuals experience regarding their assigned sex at birth. The research challenges previous notions that transsexuals do not exhibit genetic or hormonal differences compared to the general population. However, the findings come at a time of controversy, particularly for the Johns Hopkins Medical School in America, which ceased performing sex-change surgeries in the previous year. This decision was based on research by Dr Jon Myer, who argued that transsexuals do not report greater happiness following surgery and suggested that their issues are predominantly psychological. The university's actions have drawn criticism, especially from leading sex researcher Professor John Money, and could potentially result in malpractice lawsuits from transsexual individuals who were denied surgical options based on the findings presented by Dr Myer. Overall, Dr Eicher's research holds significant implications for the understanding of gender identity and the biological underpinnings of transsexualism, which may prompt a reevaluation of the approaches and attitudes of some medical institutions toward sex reassignment procedures.
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