Dexamethazone: Sex 'Normalization' of Intersex Babies in Utero

[Shana A]

Dexamethazone: Sex 'Normalization' of Intersex Babies in Utero

Filed By Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | August 09, 2012 11:00 AM

http://www.bilerico.com/2012/08/dexamethazone_sex_normalization_of_intersex_babies.php

In 2010, we first heard of the use of dexamethazone for "sex normalization" - de-masculinization - for fetuses at risk of an intersex condition. Now, some scientist bigstock-Pregnant-Belly-774935.jpgethicists have come out with a paper discussing the ethics of the use of this drug.

In short:

"The pregnant women targeted are at risk for having a child born with the condition congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), an endocrinological condition that can result in female fetuses being born with intersex or more male-typical genitals and brains. Women genetically identified as being at risk are given dexamethasone, a synthetic steroid, off-label starting as early as week five of the first trimester to try to "normalize" the development of those fetuses, which are female and CAH-affected. Because the drug must be administered before doctors can know if the fetus is female or CAH-affected, only one in eight of those exposed are the target type of fetus.

The off-label intervention does not prevent CAH; it aims only at sex normalization."