Is there anything like a gay gene?

PHOTO | FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By DR TOROOTI MWIRIGI nation@askadoc.co.ke
Posted  Tuesday, April 23   2013 at  01:00

IN SUMMARY

• Is homosexuality genetic or is it a learned behaviour bordering on addiction? All medical indicators point to personal choice and conditioning rather than genes

Homosexuality is a topic that is never discussed in public. We know about it but rarely talk about it. So it was shocking when, during my first year in college, our professor went off-topic and got into the taboo subject during an embryology lecture.

It was a hot and humid afternoon and the class was packed to the rafters. These conditions, including our full bellies, were making the afternoon lecture unbearable. So, understandably, we were all caught off-guard when the lecturer changed topics. His voice also changed from that of a teacher to that of a concerned father talking to his many children.

Noticing that he held our attention, he put down his thick bunch of handwritten notes and the chalk on the table and began explaining the development of an embryo in the womb. As the foetus develops, he explained, there is a moment in time when there is a surge of “intercourse” hormones, which determine the sexual characteristics and orientation of the baby.

However, in some rare cases, there is an imbalance of these hormones, and the result is that a male baby will develop ‘girl-like’ characteristics as they grow up, or a female baby will develop ‘boy-like’ characteristics. The boy will have the mannerisms of girls and may have a natural attraction towards men, considering his brain has developed as that of a “woman”. In my professor’s opinion, such boys are considered ‘born-gays’... but they are in the minority.

Basically, the lecturer’s conclusion was that homosexualtiy is mostly acquired and learned, and that it all has something to do with the prostrate.

Initially, his description was confusing. The prostate is a small organ found below the bladder. It plays a role in the production of semen and is mostly known for the negative effect is has on men’s lives. As we tried recalling our newly found anatomy knowledge, our professor picked up the piece of chalk he had put on the table and went on to illustrate the anatomy of the prostate.

In his opinion, the majority of men attracted to other men were not necessarily born gay. They do not have the characteristic ‘gay’ look and it would be difficult to tell such from a ‘straight’ chap.

“So how do they become gay?” he questioned.

“Men are indoctrinated into a gay lifestyle at an early age when they are impressionable,” he explained. “This is usually by a friend or older boys. However, the stimulation of the prostrate is what makes them seek out men time and time again. This eventually develops into a lifestyle. It may not mean that these men are not attracted to women. They just get more pleasure elsewhere.”

With that he turned his back to the class and began scribbling on the black board.

Years later, this story came to mind as I watched a documentary detailing a scandal by prominent American politicians. A number of the men confessed being gay after being caught in compromising situations with other men. All of the men in that documentary were upstanding citizens who had wives and children.

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Know your body: The Prostate Gland

The prostate gland is a doughnut-shaped cluster of glands located at the bottom of the bladder about halfway between the rectum and the base of the male reproductive organ.

Its main function is to store and produce seminal fluid, a milky liquid that transports and nourishes sperm. It requires male hormones, like testosterone, to function properly, helping to regulate bladder control and normal sexual functioning.

Problems of the prostate

1. Prostatitis: Inflammation of the prostate gland. It is often the result of infectious bacteria that invades the prostate from another area of the body. It can affect men in their late teens to those well into old age. The condition is not contagious and cannot be transmitted sexually to a partner. Its symptoms include:

• Trouble passing urine
• Chills and fever
• Sexual problems
• 2. Enlarged Prostate: As a man ages, the prostate can grow larger. At age 40, the gland might have increased from the size of a walnut to that of an apricot.
  By the time he reaches the age of 60, it might be the size of a lemon. This is a non-cancerous growth of the prostate that can interfere with urination. Symptoms include:
  • Urgent need to urinate
  • Weak urinary stream
  • Frequent urination
  3. Prostate Cancer: Prostate cancer grows slowly and may not spread for many years, but a medical examination can help prevent it. Symptoms include:
  • Difficulty starting urine flow
  • Pain during urination
  • Loss of weight and appetite
  • Blood in urine
  Prostate Tests
  Digital rectal examination: A DRE can sometimes detect an enlarged prostate, lumps or nodules of prostate cancer, or tenderness from prostatitis.
  Prostate-specific antigen (PSA): The prostate makes a protein called PSA, which can be measured by a blood test. If PSA is high, prostate cancer is more likely, but an enlarged prostate can also cause a high PSA.
  Prostate ultrasound: An ultrasound probe is inserted into the rectum, bringing it close to the prostate. Ultrasound is often done with a operation to test for prostate cancer.
  Prostate biopsy: A needle is inserted into the prostate to take tissue out to check for prostate cancer.
  — For the next four weeks we will be talking about children’s health. Please send your health questions to nation@askadoc.co.k
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