poopylungstuffing wrote:
If you are exposed to more testosterone while in the womb, then does that mean that you would be inclined to have a naturally higher testosterone level throughout your life?
I would not expect so. Consider that with many substances, exposure increases resistence to their effect (for instance a heroine junkie can take recreational doses that would be fatal to someone who has never previously been exposed to opiates).
Different hormones are important for triggering physiological development among other things. This entails short term exposure to higher levels of particular hormones. The exposure is caused by increased production of the hormones and a return to lower levels of the hormone results from decrease in the production of the hormone. None of this is consistent with one-time exposure to higher levels resulting in on-going raised levels. I do not see any particular reason to expect pre-natal exposure would be an exception to this (although I might be overlooking or unaware of some factor that would suggest as much).
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What causes the higher testosterone level in the mother?
Well it could be genetic, or hormone dysregulation, or even a result of dietary factors. Potentially the physiological aspects of emotional state might be implicated also (for instance the level and kind of stress one is currently experiencing and its physiological implications).