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Individuals with [congenital adrenal hyperplasia]? have an XX chromosome and female internal anatomy, but they often have ambiguous or male external genitalia, and develop male secondary sexual characteristics. This is caused by excessive in utero exposure to androgens. Another condition, also caused by excessive in utero exposure to androgens, is [progestin-induced virilisation]?. In this case, the male hormones are caused by use of progestin?, a drug that was used in the 1950s and 1960s in order to prevent miscarriage. These individuals have XX chromosomes, internal and external female anatomy. They develop however some male secondary characteristics, and they frequently have abnormally large clitorises. |
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Individuals with [congenital adrenal hyperplasia]? have an XX chromosome and female internal anatomy, but they often have ambiguous or male external genitalia, and develop male secondary sexual characteristics. This is caused by excessive in utero exposure to androgens. Another condition, also caused by excessive in utero exposure to androgens, is [progestin-induced virilisation]?. In this case, the male hormones are caused by use of progestin?, a drug that was used in the 1950s and 1960s in order to prevent miscarriage. These individuals have XX chromosomes, internal and external female anatomy. They develop however some male secondary characteristics, and they frequently have unusually large clitorises. |
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Traditionally (or at least since the rise of modern medical science) in Western societies, intersexuals with ambiguous external genitalia have had their genitalia surgically "corrected" to resemble either male or female genitals. But are increasing calls for recognition of the various degrees of intersexuality as healthy variations which should not be subject to correction. Some have attacked the common Western practice of performing "corrective" surgery on the genitals of intersexuals as Western cultural equivalent of female genital mutilation. Despite the attacks on the practice, most of the medical profession still supports it. |
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Intersexual individuals are treated in different ways by different cultures. In some societies, they have been treated as a third sex with a social role intermediate between those of men and women. In others, intersexed individuals have been expected to select one sex, and conform to its gender norms. Since the rise of modern medical science in Western societies, intersexuals with ambiguous external genitalia have had their genitalia surgically "corrected" to resemble either male or female genitals. But there are increasing calls for recognition of the various degrees of intersexuality as healthy variations which should not be subject to correction. Some have attacked the common Western practice of performing "corrective" surgery on the genitals of intersexuals as Western cultural equivalent of female genital mutilation. Despite the attacks on the practice, most of the medical profession still supports it. |
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"Corrective" surgery is generally not necessary for protection of life or health, but purely for aesthetic purposes. It very frequently leads to negative consequences for sexual functioning in later life, which would have been avoided without the surgery. Defenders of the practice argue however that it is necessary for individuals to be clearly identified as male or female, for proper "social functioning". |
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"Corrective" surgery is generally not necessary for protection of life or health, but purely for aesthetic purposes. It very frequently leads to negative consequences for sexual functioning in later life, which would have been avoided without the surgery. Defenders of the practice argue however that it is necessary for individuals to be clearly identified as male or female, for proper "social functioning". |
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