Sex hormone profiles in pedophilic and incestuous men

Eighty-eight pedophiles, 45 incest offenders, and 44 community controls with no history of sexual or violent crime were compared on eight hormones: androstenedione, cortisol, estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, and testosterone, and on sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). Results showed that sex offenders had elevated levels of four hormones: androstenedione, cortisol, estradiol and prolactin, when they were compared to normal controls, suggesting some stress-related factors. Covarying out the effects of age, education, and drug or alcohol abuse reduced only the between-group difference for estradiol. Contrary to previous findings, few sex offenders (only 2.3% to 11.8%) had either high, or low, serum testosterone levels. Incestuous and pedophilic men also did not differ from community volunteers on FSH and LH as might be expected from earlier reports. The relative value of static baseline hormonal levels in the peripheral blood and the more dynamic "challenge" tests of the endocrine system are discussed.