What Is It Like To Be ‘Intersex’

DSDs Explained..

Types of DSDs involve these elements..

Congenital Development of Ambiguous Genitalia

• Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (also known as CAH) – A condition which causes excessive virilisation. In genetic females it can result in her having no vagina and a functional penis which is capable of penetrative intercourse. Females with this condition are usually fertile, with the ability to become pregnant and give birth.
• Clitoromegaly : Acondition whereby the clitoris that is considered larger than average.
• Micropenis (also known as microphallus) – A penis that measures 7.5 cm or less in length when erect. It is a common condition, occurring in 1 in 200 men.

Congenital Disjunction of Internal and External Sex Anatomy

• Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome; (also known as CAIS) – A condition which completely affects a genetic male’s ability to recognise male hormones. These males are raised as females and usually do not discover they are genetic males until they notice and absence of mensturation in their late teens or they need medical intervention due to a hernia caused by their undecended testes. These males have a vagina, clitoris, and breasts, they will not have a ovaries or a uterus and are therefore infertile.
• 5 Alpha reuctase deficiency (also known as 5-ARD) – It only affects people with Y chromosomes, namely genetic males. People with this condition are fertile, with the ability to father children, but may be raised as females due to ambiguous or feminine genitalia

Incomplete Development of Sex Anatomy

• Vaginal Agenesis; is a condition that develops before birth, in which the muscular canal (vagina) to your uterus fails to develop fully. When this happens, other problems also may appear. For example, you may have a small uterus or, more commonly, no uterus at all.
• Gonadal Agenesis) absence of one or both testes.

Sex Chromosome Anomalies

• Turner Syndrome; A condition that describes a female born without a female chromosome or with an abnormal female chromosome. Turner syndrome causes numerous health and development problems, including but not limited to short stature, infertility, webbed neck, ADHD and obesity.
• Klinefelter Syndrome; A condition that describes a male born with at least one extra female chromosome.  It is a common occurrence, affecting 1 in 500 to 1,000 men.  While some men may have no issues related to the syndrome, some may have a micropenis, reduced fertility or infertility, little or no facial hair.  Men who wish to father children may be able to do so with the help of IVF.

Disorders of Gonadal Development

• Ovotestes is the abnormality of the gonad to contain both ovarian and testicular characteristics. Infertility is common in men whereas women have some potential for fertility.