make that the gay genie, in a bottle, LOL
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Pregnant women who take slimming pills 'are more likely to have gay
children'
By Robert Matthews, Science Correspondent
(Filed: 05/12/2004)

Women who take slimming and thyroid pills during pregnancy are substantially
more likely to have homosexual children, according to research.

A study of thousands of mothers and their adult children has revealed that
Thyroxine - used to treat thyroid deficiency - and amphetamine-based diet
pills appear to influence sexual orientation. Both were identified as being
strongly linked to a higher rate of homosexuality among female offspring.

The mothers of homosexuals were found to be up to eight times more likely to
have taken such drugs, with the effect being strongest with daughters whose
mothers took the drugs during the first three months of pregnancy. The
discovery, to be published by researchers in America, backs claims that
human sexuality is determined by genetic and biochemical factors at work
during early pregnancy.

Prof Lee Ellis and colleagues at Minot State University, North Dakota,
traced the mothers of more than 5,000 American and Canadian students and
members of gay and lesbian support groups, looking for links between
prescription drugs taken during pregnancy and the sexual orientation of
their children.

The researchers found that the mothers of homosexual women were at least
five times more likely to have taken synthetic thyroid medications during
pregnancy than mothers of heterosexual women, and eight times more likely to
have used amphetamine-based diet pills such as Dexedrine and diethylpropion.

They also found evidence that some drugs have the opposite effect during
pregnancy, reducing the probability of homosexual offspring. Mothers of
heterosexual males were 70 per cent more likely to have taken drugs to
combat nausea than those of male homosexuals.

The results suggest that the effect of the drugs is strongest with female
babies and when taken during the first three months of pregnancy, which
accords with previous studies showing that sexual orientation is decided
during this period. The results will appear in the journal Personality and
Individual Differences.

Prof Ellis and his colleagues state: "These analyses support the conclusion
that female offspring are more vulnerable to alterations in sexual
orientation via exposure to a variety of prescription drugs, and suggest
that this vulnerability is greatest during the first trimester." The
researchers emphasise that the numbers taking the drugs were small and that
a larger study should be undertaken. Nevertheless, they conclude: "Mothers
of the female homosexuals were significantly more likely than mothers of
female heterosexuals to have taken diet pills and thyroid medications during
pregnancy."

Dr Glenn Wilson of the Institute of Psychiatry, London, and author of a
forthcoming book on the origins of homosexuality, said: "These types of
medication could have an effect on brain chemistry and research suggests
that this is a major factor in determining sexual orientation."

Prof Jim Dornan, the vice-president of the Royal College of Obstetricians
and Gynaecologists, said that the findings were in line with others pointing
to the importance of pre-natal factors in adult life. "We know that
nutrients during pregnancy can affect health in later life. This is a very
interesting finding and definitely deserves further study."

The finding adds to mounting concern over the use of slimming pills by women
trying to lose weight. Prof Dornan said: "All drugs can cross the placental
barrier and, looking back, we weren't so aware of what was going on inside
the womb. Nowadays, the Royal College's view is that women should not take
drugs unless there is a clinical need."