Sex hormones in pedophiles

Abstract

Twenty-six pedophiles and 16 nonviolent nonsex offenders were compared on baseline values of Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, estradiol, dehydroenpiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and cortisol. Pedophiles had significantly higher levels of LH and FSH but lower levels of testosterone. There were no significant differences on the remaining hormones. When age and substance abuse were controlled, LH and FSH differences were not statistically significant but testosterone differences remained and pedophiles now had lower levels of cortisol. In a second study, 26 pedophiles and 14 healthy community controls were compared on the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) test. Blood was sampled for LH and FSH at times — 15, 0, 20, 45 and 60 minutes. There were no group differences in baseline values of LH or FSH. Pedophiles, however, showed greater increases in LH (but not FSH) than controls after GnRH injection. Results were similar when age, substance abuse and baseline levels of testosterone were taken into account. The findings suggest that further investigation of pituitary functioning in pedophiles is warranted.