Pseudohermaphroditism
| Pseudohermaphroditism |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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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 The term pseudohermaphroditism is now restricted to the technical literature, having been replaced by intersex in most public discussion, though this term is also challenged (see External links below).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.
External links
Acknowledgements
The content on this page was first contributed by: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D.
List of contributors: