What is “Intersex”?

“Intersex” is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not fit the typical of female or male. These conditions can involve abnormalities of the external genitals, internal reproductive organs, sex chromosomes or sex-related hormones, then create combinations of chromosomal genotype and sexual phenotype other than XY-male and XX-female.“Intersex” is also known as DSD: Disorders of Sex Development.

Penile agenesis, occurring about once in 5-6 million male births, is the case that a male child is born without a penis. In an embryo, the conversion of the gonads into testicles and ovaries is the function of Leydig cells. The failure of this process is called testicular agenesis. Subsequently testes cannot procedure 5-alpha dihydrotestosterone (5aDHT) and the masculising process that builds the genital tubercle, the precursor to the penis, is stillborn. This is the main cause that leads to penile agenesis.

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, or AIS, is an inherited condition that occurs in approximately 1 in 20000 individuals. People with AIS are genetically male, with one X and one Y chromosome in each cell. However, their bodies are unable to respond to certain male sex hormones (androgen). So they may have mostly female sex characteristics or signs of both male and female.

Medical treatmentIdeally, a team of health care professionals with expertise in intersex should work together to understand and treat child with intersex as well as to counsel and support the entire family.

There are two main options to manage intersex: surgery and hormone treatment.Surgical procedures depend on diagnosis, and there is often