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No relationship between prenatal or early postnatal androgen exposure and autistic traits: evidence using anogenital distance and penile length measurements at birth and 3 months of age
Author(s) -
Kung Karson T.F.,
Thankamony Ajay,
Ong Ken K.L.,
Acerini Carlo L.,
Dunger David B.,
Hughes Ieuan A.,
Hines Melissa
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/jcpp.13335
Subject(s) - anogenital distance , psychology , androgen , autistic traits , developmental psychology , autism , clinical psychology , physiology , pregnancy , medicine , fetus , endocrinology , biology , genetics , autism spectrum disorder , hormone , in utero
Background Autism is more prevalent in males than in females. Hypotheses related to the extreme male brain theory of autism suggest that heightened androgen exposure during early development contributes to autistic traits. Whilst prior research focused mostly on the prenatal period, the current study tests the influences of androgen exposure during both the prenatal and the early postnatal periods on autistic traits during childhood. Methods Anthropometric measures that are putative biomarkers of early androgen exposure were employed. Anogenital distance (AGD) was measured at birth and 3 months of age in boys and girls. Penile length at birth and 3 months of age was also measured in boys. When the children were 9–13 years old, a parent‐reported questionnaire (the 10‐item children’s version of the Autism Spectrum Quotient; AQ‐10 Child) was used to assess autistic traits in 97 boys and 110 girls. Results There were no significant associations between any of the AGD or penile length measures and scores on the AQ‐10 Child in boys, girls or the entire sample. Conclusions The current study provides the first test of whether early measurements of AGD and/or penile length predict subsequent autistic traits. The current findings do not support a relationship between prenatal or early postnatal androgen exposure and autistic traits. The current study augments prior research showing no consistent relationship between early androgen exposure and autistic traits.