Intersex traits arise from natural variations in chromosomes, hormones, or anatomy, often due to random genetic mutations, inherited differences in sex hormone response, or environmental factors during pregnancy, resulting in sex characteristics (genitals, hormones, chromosomes) that don't fit typical male/female definitions. Causes vary widely, from XXY chromosomes or SRY gene deletions to enzyme deficiencies like in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) or exposure to certain hormones, leading to diverse presentations from birth or later.
Intersex variation happens in about 2 in every 100 births. This is about the same as the number of people with red hair. The most common intersex variations are due to differences in chromosomes, such as: Klinefelter (XXY) syndrome.
Most are random but some are genetic. Chromosome variations can happen randomly and spontaneously during conception due to egg cells or sperm cells. This means a child may not have the typically male (XY) or female (XX) chromosomes and instead have a combination such as XXY or XYY.
Do all intersex people get a period? No, not all intersex people get a period. ``When it comes to puberty in general, all of us are different. Not all intersex people and cases are the same; we all have our own unique circumstances.''
Being intersex is a naturally occurring variation in humans, and it isn't a medical problem — therefore, medical interventions (like surgeries or hormone therapy) on children usually aren't medically necessary. Being intersex is also more common than most people realize.
Symptoms
While people who are intersex may have differences in their anatomy, chromosomes, and/or hormones that can impact their ability to get pregnant, many intersex people have ovaries and/or testes that can produce eggs or sperm, which can lead to a pregnancy.
There are many possible differences in genitalia, hormones, internal anatomy, or chromosomes, compared to the usual two ways that human bodies develop. Some intersex traits are noticed at birth. Others don't show up until puberty or later in life.
People who are intersex have genitals, chromosomes or reproductive organs that don't fit into a male/female sex binary. Their genitals might not match their reproductive organs, or they may have traits of both. Being intersex may be evident at birth, childhood, later in adulthood or never.
A child that is born neither male or female is a rare occurrence but babies born with some form of Disorder of Sex Development (DSD) happens in one in every 1,500 births, according to the support group Accord Alliance.
It is often assumed that women have XX chromosomes and men have XY, but biology is more complex. Some women have XY chromosomes — a natural variation in sex development. They grow up identifying and living as women, and most only discover well into puberty that they are different.
The term intersexuality was coined by Richard Goldschmidt in the 1917 paper Intersexuality and the endocrine aspect of sex. The first suggestion to replace the term 'hermaphrodite' with 'intersex' came from British specialist Cawadias in the 1940s.
Blood tests to look at chromosomes. This can show the genetic sex: typically, XX or XY. These blood tests also can show conditions caused by a gene change that affects sex organ development. Ultrasound of the pelvis and belly to look for testicles that haven't descended, a uterus or a vagina.
True hermaphroditism, the rarest form of intersex, is usually diagnosed during the newborn period in the course of evaluating ambiguous genitalia.
When we talk about menstrual health, many people only think of female persons. But not everyone who menstruates is a female person. Some intersex people also menstruate. Their needs are often ignored in health programmes and public conversations.
Sometimes the term Disorders of Sex Development is used, as is Variations in Sex Characteristics (VSC) or Diverse Sex Development. Some people prefer to use the term intersex.
Klinefelter syndrome
The syndrome affects roughly 1 in 600 or 700 men, making it one of the most common types of intersex conditions. Males with this syndrome produce insufficient testosterone, leading to late onset of puberty and some times failure to complete puberty.
Mild androgen insensitivity syndrome (MAIS) is an intersex condition that results in a mild impairment of the cell's ability to respond to androgens.
Even if your external genitalia are not clearly male or female, or were altered surgically at birth to conform to one binary gender or the other, you may still be fertile. If you have a uterus, you may be able to carry a child, either on your own or with the help of hormone therapy.