Is intersex a birth defect?

Intersex variations are not abnormal and should not be seen as 'birth defects'; they are natural biological variations and occur in up to 1.7 per cent of all births. Most people with intersex variations are not born with atypical genitalia, however this is common for certain intersex variations.

Is intersex considered a disorder?

In the past, being intersex was known as having a disorder of sex development (DSD), and you might see it referred to this way in some places. But being intersex isn't a disorder, disease or condition. Being intersex doesn't mean you need any special treatments or care.

What causes a baby to be born intersex?

There are several possible causes: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (the most common cause). Male hormones (such as testosterone) taken or encountered by the mother during pregnancy. Male hormone-producing tumors in the mother: These are most often ovarian tumors.

Is being intersex genetic?

There are many ways to be intersex. They may be due to variations in sex chromosomes or genetic changes that affect the body's production of or response to hormones. Sometimes, intersex traits are identified at birth, while others are not identified until later in life (or not at all).

What does a person with intersex look like?

Or a person may be born with genitals that seem to be in-between the usual male and female types—for example, a girl may be born with a noticeably large clitoris, or lacking a vaginal opening, or a boy may be born with a notably small penis, or with a scrotum that is divided so that it has formed more like labia.

Is Intersex a birth defect?

Can you tell if you're intersex?

If a person's genitals look different from what doctors and nurses expect when they're born, someone might be identified as intersex from birth. Other times, someone might not know they're intersex until later in life, like when they go through puberty.

Can intersex change gender?

Any child—intersex or not—may decide later in life that she or he was given the wrong gender assignment; but children with certain intersex conditions have significantly higher rates of gender transition than the general population, with or without treatment.

Do intersex males have periods?

Some people are actually born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn't fit traditional sex binaries of male and female. This is generally called 'intersex', and intersex people too may have periods.

Which is the rarest form of intersex?

Abstract. True hermaphroditism, the rarest form of intersex, is usually diagnosed during the newborn period in the course of evaluating ambiguous genitalia.

What is it like to be born intersex?

Even though there are many intersex variations, intersex people share many experiences in common. It can be difficult to look different, or to develop differently, from people around you. It's not always easy to take time off from school or work to deal with doctors' appointments and examinations.

Can an intersex person get herself pregnant?

Some intersex people have both testes and ovaries. You may be able to get pregnant on your own, if you also have a uterus. However, if you have testes, they may be releasing more testosterone than would be optimal for conception and pregnancy.

What happens if you have an intersex baby?

For the vast majority of intersex people, there is nothing physically wrong with them and there is no need for any medical interventions. If your doctor tells you that medical treatment is necessary, ask about the health implications and risks both of carrying it out and of doing nothing.

What is the new term for intersex people?

Over the past year, we have begun to use the term “disorders of sex development,” or DSD, in place of “intersex” in these contexts. It's not our intention to make intersex an entirely medical issue. But we are addressing people working in a medical context.

What are intersex conditions now generally referred to as?

The term 'intersex' refers to people who have genetic, hormonal or physical sex characteristics that sit outside what is usually expected for female or male bodies. This condition may also be called a 'disorder of sex development' (DSD).

Can a hermaphrodite have a baby?

Background: There are 11 reported cases of pregnancy in true hermaphrodites, but none with advanced genetic testing. All known fetuses have been male. Case: A true hermaphrodite with a spontaneous pregnancy prenatally known to have a remaining portion of a right ovotestis, delivered a male neonate.

What is the most common cause of intersex?

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). This is the most common cause of 46, XY intersex. Here the hormones are all normal, but the receptors to male hormones don't function properly. There are over 150 different defects that have been identified so far, and each causes a different type of AIS.

What is the difference between intersex and hermaphrodite?

Hermaphroditism, also referred to as intersex, is a condition in which there is a discrepancy between the external and internal sexual and genital organs. It is grouped together with other conditions as a disorder of sex development (DSD).

What are the five types of intersex?

Intersex variations come in many different types and are experienced in many different ways. Some common types are: congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Klinefelter syndrome, hypospadias, and androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Do intersex people need hormones?

Other intersex people, like those with Swyer Syndrome, won't go through puberty unless they use hormone replacement therapy.

Do intersex people need to take hormones?

Hormonal therapy forms part of the treatment of every intersex condition. For some conditions, such as salt-wasting congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hormonal replacement therapy is life saving because hormones necessary for survival (cortisol and aldosterone) are replaced.

Do intersex people need surgery?

While some intersex conditions can present issues making or regulating hormones or can carry other health risks, for the vast majority of intersex infants, surgical intervention is not medically necessary.

Are there any true hermaphrodites?

True hermaphroditism is defined by the presence of both ovarian and testicular tissues, either separately or, more commonly, together as ovotestis. True hermaphroditism is very rare except in Southern Africa, where it is the most common intersex condition.

Can you grow up intersex?

Some people are diagnosed shortly after birth, because their intersex traits, such as ambiguous genitalia, are visibly evident. Others, whose conditions are internal or chromosomal may not find out until puberty, or even later.

What gender do you start as in the womb?

During early development the gonads of the fetus remain undifferentiated; that is, all fetal genitalia are the same and are phenotypically female. After approximately 6 to 7 weeks of gestation, however, the expression of a gene on the Y chromosome induces changes that result in the development of the testes.

What does Islam say about intersex?

Bahrul Afif from State Islamic University of Indonesia declared transgenders as 'perpetrators' and explained, “A person with ambiguous genitals is called khunsa (intersex) in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) which is acceptable with all basic human rights because it is an absolute decree of God.