Question and Answer - What is Intersex?

[Emerald]

What is Intersex?

Intersex is a condition where a child is born with reproductive organs, genitalia and/or sex chromosomes that are neither exclusively male nor female, or a combination of features of the male and female sexes.

Intersex individuals are treated in different ways by different cultures.  Some societies include Intersexuals in the larger 'third gender' social roles.  In most societies, Intersex individuals have been expected to select one sex, male or female, and conform to its gender role.

Shortly after birth or during early childhood, many Intersex people are subject to surgical genital modification to create the semblance of  male or female genitalia for the purpose of assignment to one of the binary sexes/genders.  Some of these children grow up to express a gender identity discordant with their assigned sex.  During later adulthood, further surgery is frequently required because an incorrect sex/gender choice was made for the child. 

There are increasing calls to the medical profession for recognition of the various degrees of Intersexuality as healthy, natural variations which should not be subject to correction.  Often, the surgery is not necessary for protection of life or health, but is performed for aesthetic or social purposes.  Defenders of the practice argue that it is necessary for individuals to be clearly identified as male or female in order for them to function socially.  Still others believe the talk about 'third sexes' represents an ideological agenda to deride gender as a social construct, citing gender as a biological reality.  However, many intersex individuals have resented the medical intervention. Some have been discontented with their surgically assigned sex/gender and opt sexual reassignment surgery later in life.  Despite objections to the surgical practice, most of the Western medical profession currently supports it.

The highest Intersex estimates indicate 1 percent of live births exhibit some degree of sexual ambiguity, and between 0.1% and 0.2% of live births are ambiguous enough to become the subject of specialist medical attention, including surgery, to disguise the child's sexual ambiguity.

-Emerald 

[Berliegh]

What is Intersex?

Intersex is a condition where a child is born with reproductive organs, genitalia and/or sex chromosomes that are neither exclusively male nor female, or a combination of features of the male and female sexes.

Intersex individuals are treated in different ways by different cultures.  Some societies include Intersexuals in the larger 'third gender' social roles.  In most societies, Intersex individuals have been expected to select one sex, male or female, and conform to its gender role.

Shortly after birth or during early childhood, many Intersex people are subject to surgical genital modification to create the semblance of  male or female genitalia for the purpose of assignment to one of the binary sexes/genders.  Some of these children grow up to express a gender identity discordant with their assigned sex.  During later adulthood, further surgery is frequently required because an incorrect sex/gender choice was made for the child. 

There are increasing calls to the medical profession for recognition of the various degrees of Intersexuality as healthy, natural variations which should not be subject to correction.  Often, the surgery is not necessary for protection of life or health, but is performed for aesthetic or social purposes.  Defenders of the practice argue that it is necessary for individuals to be clearly identified as male or female in order for them to function socially.  Still others believe the talk about 'third sexes' represents an ideological agenda to deride gender as a social construct, citing gender as a biological reality.  However, many intersex individuals have resented the medical intervention. Some have been discontented with their surgically assigned sex/gender and opt sexual reassignment surgery later in life.  Despite objections to the surgical practice, most of the Western medical profession currently supports it.

The highest Intersex estimates indicate 1 percent of live births exhibit some degree of sexual ambiguity, and between 0.1% and 0.2% of live births are ambiguous enough to become the subject of specialist medical attention, including surgery, to disguise the child's sexual ambiguity.

-Emerald 

An intersexed person can have male genitalia but still be intersexed. If they undergo a chromosome test their chromosomes can sometimes come out as female, even though they have male genitalia. Also intersexed people can have different done density to an avaerage male and be more closely to a female bone density structure.
Intersexed conditions are not just related to genitalia abnormnalities.

[Melissa]

An intersexed person can have male genitalia but still be intersexed. If they undergo a chromosome test their chromosomes can sometimes come out as female, even though they have male genitalia. Also intersexed people can have different done density to an avaerage male and be more closely to a female bone density structure.
Intersexed conditions are not just related to genitalia abnormnalities.

Quite true.  My skeleton is more female than male and the differences are quite obvious.  I am still awaiting the results of my chromosome test for the blood I had taken 2 weeks ago.  Also, my genitalia are on the small side, so it was affected.  The odd thing was that I had kids, but I did do so while I was quite young and had the best chance for success (19 and 22 years old).  The second one did take a little while (several months) though.  It's not unheard of though to have this happen.
Additionally, one other possible explanation for me is that I was a fraternal twin with a sister.  It has been documented that it's possible for twins to swap blood in the uterus if the placentas overlap and thus the twins share chromosomes.
Anyways, I'll just wait to see what the results are.

[Berliegh]

An intersexed person can have male genitalia but still be intersexed. If they undergo a chromosome test their chromosomes can sometimes come out as female, even though they have male genitalia. Also intersexed people can have different done density to an avaerage male and be more closely to a female bone density structure.
Intersexed conditions are not just related to genitalia abnormnalities.

Quite true.  My skeleton is more female than male and the differences are quite obvious.  I am still awaiting the results of my chromosome test for the blood I had taken 2 weeks ago.  Also, my genitalia are on the small side, so it was affected.  The odd thing was that I had kids, but I did do so while I was quite young and had the best chance for success (19 and 22 years old).  The second one did take a little while (several months) though.  It's not unheard of though to have this happen.
Additionally, one other possible explanation for me is that I was a fraternal twin with a sister.  It has been documented that it's possible for twins to swap blood in the uterus if the placentas overlap and thus the twins share chromosomes.
Anyways, I'll just wait to see what the results are.

Melissa, I wasn't able to have kids for possibly various reasons, one being very low testo since puberty. Also I don't have a visable adams apple and my voice appears female and hadn't ever broken. It was a nightmare as a guy but now it's working in my favour very nicely and is my best feature. My bone structure is on the small side and feature's (nose, ears and face etc) are on the small side. I'm still having tests and my bone scan reveals the same density, dimension as a genetic female. When they did the scan they didn't know I wasn't a genetic female and so the scan reflected that.

I have norticed differences between me and average males throughout my life but at first just put it down to looking like a feminine male. In recent years I thought there may be something else and my strong desire's to be female may not just be related to gender dysphoria.

[Melissa]

I don't have a visible adam's apple either.  When I said I had a female skeleton, I wasn't just talking about size, but everything including joints, bone size ratios, skull shape, etc.  Despite having kids, I've also had little body hair, sparse beard, I'm smaller than everyone in my family (including my mom) except my twin sister, I've always had soft skin, muscles of female shape and size, good hips and butt, breast growth and I'm certain my T levels have dropped significantly in the 8 years or so prior to HRT.  There's enough evidence that it's undeniable that there's definitely something physically different about me than those who start off as male.  I don't know about bone density because I've never been scanned.  As for the voice, I don't recall mine "breaking", but it did get lower.  However, with starting HRT, it seemed to reverse itself (which was odd).  One strange thing is, I guess I always had small testes (if that's what they actually are) and an excess of scrotal skin.  That always drove me crazy, since it loved to stick to my legs.    Anyways, hopefully the chromosome test will reveal an explanation.  If not, then it's probably PAIS.

[Kate]

The highest Intersex estimates indicate 1 percent of live births exhibit some degree of sexual ambiguity...

I often wonder how many people don't even KNOW they're intersexed? Some of the genital abnormalities are pretty minor, and it's hard to see your chromosomes, lol...

~Kate~

[Berliegh]

I don't have a visible adam's apple either.  When I said I had a female skeleton, I wasn't just talking about size, but everything including joints, bone size ratios, skull shape, etc.  Despite having kids, I've also had little body hair, sparse beard, I'm smaller than everyone in my family (including my mom) except my twin sister, I've always had soft skin, muscles of female shape and size, good hips and butt, breast growth and I'm certain my T levels have dropped significantly in the 8 years or so prior to HRT.  There's enough evidence that it's undeniable that there's definitely something physically different about me than those who start off as male.  I don't know about bone density because I've never been scanned.  As for the voice, I don't recall mine "breaking", but it did get lower.  However, with starting HRT, it seemed to reverse itself (which was odd).  One strange thing is, I guess I always had small testes (if that's what they actually are) and an excess of scrotal skin.  That always drove me crazy, since it loved to stick to my legs.    Anyways, hopefully the chromosome test will reveal an explanation.  If not, then it's probably PAIS.

Your story is identical to mine Melissa. When I started on HRT it also worked in revearse on me. Also when I went on Gosaleren (Zoladex) it also worked in revearse giving me terrible side effects. Prior to taking HRT I had non existant Testo levels... the endocrinologist was baffled but I thought it was probably due to an intersexed condition. My bone scans measured exactely the same as a genetic female and it does differ to a genetic male.

[Zelane]

What Berliegh and Melissa are referring to could be if not something related to xsomes a endocrin situation like PAIS.

This is odd you two are describing some of the stuff I have been dealing since puberty. When I started transition 2 years ago I also started to notice some stuff that I overlooked since I hated to look at my body and at a mirror. Part of that stuff is how my body is skeleton wise.

One of the things was my breast since they started to develop when I was 11 (it hurt a lot -_-) and then that together with a squeaky voice was an invitation to harassment during High School. One of the new things that I didnt noticed until now was how my bones are, I mean I remember seeing some hips when I was 14 and it seems I have a little (not sure if I really look ok or not) and my arms have a distinctive "female look"

And then I was really surprised to see that there was no adams apple and when I started researching about genitals and such I noticed how my testes were always small and they didnt fully dropped.

The weird part is I had lots of acne during puberty, this could mean I had or have high T.


Anyway, going trough puberty with all that was very confusing.

[glendagladwitch]

I grew up with male genetalia and always had surgical scars on and around my genetalia.  My parents said the scars on my lower abdomen were for hernia operations.  They did not talk about the one down the center of the scrotum and etc. 

During puberty, I developed a little bit of breast growth.  My parents insisted that I have my breast tissue removed, but the surgeon refused to do it against my wishes.

When I transitioned, my parents said that I was not intersexed.  I got the medical records from the surgeries and only hernia operations were mentioned.

Years later, my sister told me that my parents admitted to her that my genetalia had been surgically descended.  I got a gene test and it said normal XY.  A fish test also showed no mutation for hormone insensitivity.

So, I do not know precisely what went on or to what degree, if any, my genetalia resembled those of a female at birth.  I suppose it is possible to have genital abnormalities without being intersexed, per se.

What do you think?  Should I consider myself intersexed?  Does it really matter?

[krisalyx]

hm that's interesting suposedly i had a surgrie almost exactly like yours  my mom's never explained it to me what happened but i have a lingererg feeling that i am an intersexed person let me explain for a sex my face looks girlish but boyish ihave these (gropes her own breasts) 44D breasts and what i beleiva are not my balls are actually my overies is there anyway of finding out the truth for myself?

[Sub-Zero]

I know this thread hasn't been touched upon in a while but I'm interested in learning more about this from people who actually have it, or are it, more to the point, so does anyone know how being intersex happens?

[Freyja_Joro]

I know this thread hasn't been touched upon in a while but I'm interested in learning more about this from people who actually have it, or are it, more to the point, so does anyone know how being intersex happens?

It depends. I don't personally have it, but I do have a basic understanding of it.

Sometimes it can be a birth defect, other times a genetic disorder and other times reproductive mistake.

A Genetic Disorder would be AIS.

While a reproductive mistake might be having a sperm cell having XY instead of just one of the chromosomes or double Chromosomes like XX or YY, or having Y or X like it should but the egg having XX. Which could lead to certain problems in the development of the child.

A birth defect might be just child being born with ambiguous genitalia or a baby boy being born with the lack of a penis, (which isn't all that uncommon.)

[D0LL]

I often wonder how many people don't even KNOW they're intersexed? Some of the genital abnormalities are pretty minor, and it's hard to see your chromosomes, lol...

~Kate~

I wonder the same thing. I've watched a few shows of "chimeras" and intersex people, and it's amazing how many of these people go through life completely normally to one day find out they're a DNA clusterf***.

I've always wished I was intersexed, just to have a reason for feeling the need to be male. Unfortunately, my large bone-structure and other male attributes such as body hair CAN be attributed to my insanely high testosterone. However, that's not to say I may not still be intersexed, I just highly doubt I'd ever get tests done to confirm either or answer. Knowing my DNA makeup wouldn't help me feel any more of either gender...

[TiffanyJ]

Hi, I just saw your post and it got me thinking, if someone is intersex can it effect their bones, for instance can someone have a feminine jaw bone and masculine brow bone? And hips, I know there are a few intersex conditions, the fact that I have some strange features has often made me wonder if maybe I'm intersex, but back to the hips, is it also possible to have one side of your hips wider than the other?

If anyone replies thanks

[Balerie]

I don't know but reading these posts I wonder what happened when I was born. Nobody ever told me anything was out of the ordinary. Three years ago I went to see a urologist because my doctor had run blood tests and found I was low testosterone. I went to the urologist and after an examination was asked if I would allow a genetic test to be performed. I agreed and my next visit I was told that I was 47XXY. He said he needed to confirm his suspicions due to my body shape,small genitals, gynomastia, and underdeveloped testes. It was then that a lot of things made sense.

Basically, I was told I was intersex and nothing needed to change because I was still me. I told the doctor about my weird mental state which continually switched back forth from male to female, my crossdressing, and the fact I was sterile. He explained that it was all normal considering my genetic make-up.

Fast forward to the present, I'm using Androgel and still my testosterone is really low and my estrodial is super high. I was told that I have a high probability of getting osteoporosis so I need to use the Androgel. I'm worried because I've read that XXYs should have a bone density test done and it hasn't been suggested to me. I also worry that I may have ovaries or even some female anatomy within me but I haven't taken action to get that checked either.

[alyona]

I am not even still sure what I am as far as labels go but I know full well what I am inside!

I was born with completely normal outward female genitalia and was brought up as a girl, was a very pretty one looking at photos and I loved life. I was interfered with by uncle when I (was 7/8 (had to do things to him which I can barely care to remember to this day).  My mother caught him and I was sent to doctor who examined me and told her I was not 'fully formed' and would need some surgery when I was older.

Father came back into our lives when I was almost ten and sent me to another doctor who said that I was XXY and father removed me from family and at 13 made me have male hormones (although I did not understand this at time).

I a now 5'10'' and have larger hands and feet and some male changes to my face and have light beard. I have no body hair elsewhere at all funnily enough. This started my life long nightmare. I became what was described as a 'beautiful looking man'. I even did some modelling.

I still feel 100% female inside and while I confess to being attracted to women and really hate men, can do nothing as a male.

I did get independent check made three years ago using mouth tissue swab and came out just normal female. XX

If nothing else, I really hate it when some 'expert' makes declarations on another's gender indentity and then proceeds to make decisions for a child. Some cars are 'lemons' from the time they leave the factory. Some humans are the same. I know I should have led the life of a female but then I have to accept that I am gay so either way is very hard. I just prefer to NOT know exactly and remain in the middle!

I developed small breasts once I was able to stop taking the male pills (at Uni.) and I have had to hide those too! When taking flying medicals I am put down as having Gynecomastia which inside annoys me very much!

I am now starting female hormones again bought on internet and hopefully, at least inside, I shall feel better and get back bone density.

[Rudy King]

Hi, I just saw your post and it got me thinking, if someone is intersex can it effect their bones, for instance can someone have a feminine jaw bone and masculine brow bone? And hips, I know there are a few intersex conditions, the fact that I have some strange features has often made me wonder if maybe I'm intersex, but back to the hips, is it also possible to have one side of your hips wider than the other?

If anyone replies thanks

Yes, it can.  I have "Partial Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome", so I'm a "male pseudo-hermaphrodite", so I have testes, but I have female secondary sexual characteristics, and have a female body.  However, my body did respond to just enough testosterone to make male genitalia, but they never grew with puberty, so I have the genitalia of a seven to nine year old boy. 

My Adam's apple didn't grow, but I have a gender ambiguous voice (when I'm not sick).

[Rudy King]

What Berliegh and Melissa are referring to could be if not something related to xsomes a endocrin situation like PAIS.

This is odd you two are describing some of the stuff I have been dealing since puberty. When I started transition 2 years ago I also started to notice some stuff that I overlooked since I hated to look at my body and at a mirror. Part of that stuff is how my body is skeleton wise.

One of the things was my breast since they started to develop when I was 11 (it hurt a lot -_-) and then that together with a squeaky voice was an invitation to harassment during High School. One of the new things that I didnt noticed until now was how my bones are, I mean I remember seeing some hips when I was 14 and it seems I have a little (not sure if I really look ok or not) and my arms have a distinctive "female look"

And then I was really surprised to see that there was no adams apple and when I started researching about genitals and such I noticed how my testes were always small and they didnt fully dropped.

The weird part is I had lots of acne during puberty, this could mean I had or have high T.


Anyway, going trough puberty with all that was very confusing.

I felt like I was reading one of my own posts.  Creepy!

[nastradini]

I don't know but reading these posts I wonder what happened when I was born. Nobody ever told me anything was out of the ordinary. Three years ago I went to see a urologist because my doctor had run blood tests and found I was low testosterone. I went to the urologist and after an examination was asked if I would allow a genetic test to be performed. I agreed and my next visit I was told that I was 47XXY. He said he needed to confirm his suspicions due to my body shape,small genitals, gynomastia, and underdeveloped testes. It was then that a lot of things made sense.

Basically, I was told I was intersex and nothing needed to change because I was still me. I told the doctor about my weird mental state which continually switched back forth from male to female, my crossdressing, and the fact I was sterile. He explained that it was all normal considering my genetic make-up.

Fast forward to the present, I'm using Androgel and still my testosterone is really low and my estrodial is super high. I was told that I have a high probability of getting osteoporosis so I need to use the Androgel. I'm worried because I've read that XXYs should have a bone density test done and it hasn't been suggested to me. I also worry that I may have ovaries or even some female anatomy within me but I haven't taken action to get that checked either.

hi, I am xxy male, I have 90% female body without hormones, 10% I am male, I think like woman I decide like woman is normal, some xxy thinks  they are woman in males body and try to takes hormones either change sex to become woman some others xxy want to become mans and take more hormones including breast operation to become mans, some others are like me, we don't care we lives the life, yes is true we get osteoporosis but are lots of natural drugs in the market insteand taking hormones, hormones are good and bad, why I have to take the risk, yes is true I have breast but I am not a woman but I am not a man either, I am intersex, if I leave my hair longer the people will think I am e very sexy woman, if I cut my hair the people will think I look as a sexy man, well in the end I don't care what they think, I love my body and I love my life as a intersex I don't live for people I live for myself.  I done all the test you think and in the end I am xxy male intersex, I wish you all the best whatever you decide in your life be a woman take lots of hormones or a man take lots of hormones with the risk, but in the end we never will change we always will be xxy intersex people

[Mariah]

Hi nastradini, welcome to Susan's. I look forward to seeing you around the forums. Good luck and Hugs
Mariah

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