Pseudohermaphroditism
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-525-6884
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Overview
Pseudohermaphroditism or pseudo-hermaphroditism, is a name used to describe the fact that some people are born with external sex organs that look intermediate between the typical vagina or penis. The term was adopted to distinguish between these people, who have typical ovaries or testes, and "true" hermaphrodites, who do not. It is also used for a range of other rare human physicalities. The term pseudohermaphroditism is now restricted to the technical literature, having been replaced by intersex in most public discussion, though this term is also challenged (see External links below).
The inadequency of the term outside technical descriptions can be demonstrated by many examples, but a simple one is the case of women with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS). These women typically have primary and secondary sexual characteristics typical of other women, however they are genetically XY and have internal testes, rather than ovaries. They often marry but cannot have children. However scientifically precise the description "male" pseudohermaphrodite may be for such women, it is clearly socially inappropriate. CAIS is little better. Most intersex conditions are normal (if rare) human physicalities. The S for syndrome in CAIS does not accord with the "normality" CAIS women feel about their bodies.
John Money is perhaps the best known early researcher in this area. His doctoral thesis was titled Hermaphroditism: An Inquiry into the Nature of a Human Paradox, and awarded by Harvard University in 1952. Money was forced to change his mind about several of his early views in the course of his career (see main entry David Reimer). Milton Diamond has probably become the best known expert public advocate for the intersex community in the early 21st century. He is the director of the Pacific Center for Sex and Society.
External links
Acknowledgements
The content on this page was first contributed by: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D.
Initial content for this page in some instances came from Wikipedia
List of contributors:
Suggested Reading and Key General References
Suggested Links and Web Resources
For Patients
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
