intersexed at 56

[stephanie l 1958]

hi Stephanie calling for the UK.

I found out aged 52 after a blood test for a knee operation showed oestrogen   since then more blood test then DNA testing showed I am 46xx Ovotesticular DSD .   

I am now 56 and awaiting an appointment to see a GIC clinic

thing have fell into place that map my whole life (like a blank jigsaw - now the picture is revealed)

I was born with normal male genitals but have felt "not correct gender" since 4

I was married for 10 years but struggled to have a baby (tests showed very low sperm count (advised ivf) by chance we had a baby - but marriage failed.

medical op for snip showed multiple pipework internally - then when bloods showed normal level of female hormone and reduced testosterone scans showed I have 1 ovary and 1 testicle.

hormones have now levelled of to normal levels for female  -  I now have breast growth.

just to make you laugh - was asked a few weeks ago by shrink (asked to see while awaiting GIC) if I was taking female hormones (self prescribing!)   when I said yes - technically my own body is self prescribing he didn't know what to say !   don't think he has seen an intersexed person before.

I now have to make a life changing choice of staying male (op's to remove breasts and ovary)  or to have a sex change to what my mind and body is now telling me - become female,    deep down there is only one choice, luckily my whole family are very supportive which lifts a great burden being accepted.

best regards  -  best wishes for anyone who finds themselves in a similar position   

[V M]

Hi Stephanie 

Welcome to Susan's    Glad to have you here, join on in the fun

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Hugs

V M

[gennee]

Hi Stephanie and welcome to Susan's. Thank you for the wonderful introduction.

[Rachel]

Welcome to Susan's

[Northern Jane]

It is strange how things can remain hidden for many decades!

I demonstrated "gender dysphoria" from childhood and there were some oddities at puberty. I felt I must be a transsexual and sought medical help in that regard. Although blood tests in my teens (1960s) showed abnormal hormone levels, nobody every mentioned Intersex, not even after SRS.

At age 62 I had an abdominal CT scan and was informed I have a uterus. I don't know if doctors were just ignorant of Intersex or if they preferred to ignore it.

[stephanie l 1958]

Northern Jane  you have hit it on the head ! nearly identical experience from childhood.

my problems were with doctors (raised feelings on 3 occasions - told to man up !!!)

I didn't have scans till 52 due to this being my first ever operation and blood checks, that was when everything showed up,

all things have now fallen into place and a full picture has emerged , its a shame it has taken this long to find out - the mental stress over the years at times have been unbearable,  cross fingers the gender identity clinic can help.

[mm]

Northern Jane, were your testis examined for for sigh of ovaries or ovatestis cells when they were removed?

[Northern Jane]

Northern Jane, were your testis examined for for sigh of ovaries or ovatestis cells when they were removed?

No. I had to pay for everything myself and I did not know (at the time) that there may have been anything worth testing for. Based on my unusual puberty and hormone levels at age 17 and before HRT, it is almost certain that I had ovatestes.