Are women with bisexual brothers more fertile?

Introduction.  Recent studies on male homosexuals showed increased fecundity of maternal female relatives of homosexual probands, compared to those of heterosexual controls. We have suggested that these data could be explained by the transmission, in the maternal line, of an X-linked genetic factor that promotes androphilic behavior in females and homosexuality in males.

Aim.  Our original studies were on relatives of male subjects who declared themselves to be exclusively homosexual. However, the relationship between homosexuality and bisexuality, including the possibility of shared genetic factors, is complex and largely unexplored. To cast light on this issue, in the present study we examined whether relatives of bisexuals show the same indirect fitness advantage as previously demonstrated for homosexuals.

Main Outcome Measures.  Subjects completed a questionnaire on their sexual orientation, sexual behavior, and their own and their relatives’ fecundity.

Methods.  We studied 239 male subjects, comprising 88 who were exclusively or almost exclusively heterosexual (pooled to comprise our “heterosexual” group), 86 who were bisexual, and 65 exclusively or almost exclusively homosexual individuals (pooled in our “homosexual” group). Bisexuals were here defined on the basis of self-identification, lifetime sexual behavior, marital status, and fecundity.

Results.  We show that fecundity of female relatives of the maternal line does not differ between bisexuals and homosexuals. As in the previous study on homosexuals, mothers of bisexuals show significantly higher fecundity, as do females in the maternal line (cumulated fecundity of mothers, maternal grandparents, and maternal aunts), compared to the corresponding relatives of heterosexual controls.This study also shows that both bisexuals and homosexuals were more frequently second and third born. However, only homosexuals had an excess of older male siblings, compared to heterosexuals.