1. Delay Intersex Cosmetic Surgery
For individuals with intersex phenotypes like CAH, adopt a “wait-and-see” approach regarding cosmetic genital surgery until the individual is old enough to provide informed consent, as early, medically unnecessary surgeries can lead to negative outcomes.
2. Acknowledge Aversive Sexual Pathways
Recognize that for some individuals, particularly males, there may be a biological or socially inculcated aversive component to same-sex sexual interaction, which is as significant as appetitive desire in shaping partner choice.
3. Prioritize Excitement in Career Choices
When faced with career or life decisions, especially when the path ahead is unclear, prioritize pursuing what genuinely excites you in the moment, rather than solely focusing on long-term, predetermined outcomes.
4. Leverage Behavior to Influence Hormones
Recognize that behaviors, such as competition and winning, can directly impact hormone levels like testosterone, creating a reciprocal relationship where actions influence physiology.
5. Assess Hormone Levels by Subjective Feeling
Recognize that individual responses to hormone levels vary greatly; prioritize how one feels (vigor, libido, enthusiasm) rather than strictly adhering to numerical reference ranges when assessing hormonal health.
6. Understand 2D-4D Ratio Limitations
Recognize that while average digit ratio differences correlate with prenatal testosterone exposure and sexual orientation, individual finger lengths are not predictive of one’s own sexual orientation due to high variability and other influencing factors.
7. Embrace Lifelong Brain Plasticity
Understand that the brain, including deeper structures like the hypothalamus, remains plastic throughout life, meaning learning and experiences can continually alter neural circuits and behavior.
8. Prioritize Partner Identity in Relationships
Understand that for humans, the identity and sex of a partner are overwhelmingly more important than specific sexual acts or motor behaviors, distinguishing human sexuality from many animal models.
9. Consider Testosterone’s Impact on Well-being
Understand that testosterone can significantly impact adult male well-being, energy, and libido, and that even men with “normal” but lower-end levels may feel better with appropriate, medically supervised testosterone replacement.
10. Acknowledge Innate Child Differences
Recognize that children, even within the same family, exhibit innate individual differences and sex-specific behavioral tendencies (e.g., rough-and-tumble play, toy preferences) that are influenced by biological factors, not solely by upbringing.