Intersex

Intersex variations happen in types of species which use sexual reproduction. Intersex people are born with sex characteristics that are different than usual males and usual females.^[1][2] Hermaphrodite is a word that gets confused with intersex, and while all hermaphrodites are intersex, not all intersex people are hermaphrodites.^[3] The clinical term 'disorders of sex development' (DSD) is also used but is very controversial.^[4][5][6]

The intersex pride flag is used to represent these individuals

Early intersex flag from year 2010

An intersex individual's genitalia may be atypical in some way. It can be difficult to determine if an intersex baby is genetically male or female (with XY chromosomes or XX chromosomes). They may also have male and/or female secondary sex characteristics (such as body shape). There is a wide range of differences in sexual anatomy, though.^[3] There are many more small forms of sex anatomy, or sex chromosome differences.^[7] These don't even show physically. Some won't show up until later in life.^[7] Sometimes, the variation may appear when the person has puberty or becomes an adult. It may not even be detected in an individual's lifetime,^[3] but as technology gets more advanced, people will know sooner.

Population figures

Up to 0.018% of people may be born with an intersex variation.^[8]

Causes

Most causes of intersex are congenital, or born with it, usually because of a genetic condition. All development is made by genes which say the process of growth.^[9]

The most common intersex variation is a hormone condition. This causes genetically female fetuses to have a more masculine body appearance, because the babies' adrenal gland produces higher levels of androgen hormones (hormones that act like testosterone), This can make the female baby seem male even to doctors and parents.

Genetic abnormalities

Some intersex people may be so because of abnormalities with their sex chromosomes, ending in genetic disorders. One disorder known as Turner's syndrome is when instead of having an XX (female) or XY (male) genotype, a person has X0. A person with Turner's Syndrome usually looks like a girl, but they are shorter in height and do not go through puberty, which means they cannot reproduce.^[10]

Another genetic disorder is Klinefelter syndrome, where a person has an XXY genotype. This disorder affects males, causing them to be not fertile, have smaller genitalia, and less hair on their face. Males with this disorder can have a big range of symptoms which can be so little that they might never be diagnosed.^[11]

Medical interventions

Surgery may be used on intersex babies to give a more "usual" cosmetic appearance. This is sometimes thought to make children more normal, but this thought lacks evidence^[12] and is contested.^[6][13] Early cosmetic medical interventions can lead to problems in later life, including decreased sexual function and feelings there.^[14][15] The babies that are affected cannot consent to those surgeries, and their parents may not understand the full effects that come with the surgery.^[16] There is no medical consensus about surgeries, including the type of surgery, when they do the surgery, and if it's even needed.^[12]

Medical interventions can cause mental and emotional harm to the child when they grow and begin to go through puberty.^[17] Children may not feel like they are the gender that is assigned to them by their parents or doctors, causing issues with gender identity. Some people believe it is best to leave the genitalia as it is when the child is born and allow them to make decisions about it when they are old enough.

Human rights

Civil society places and human rights experts including authors of the Yogyakarta Principles^[18] have said they should end medical interventions on intersex children that are done for social reasons.^[15][19] United Nations and other human rights experts say the medical treatments are harmful.^[14]

In 2011, Christiane Völling became the first intersex person known to win a legal case done because of non-consensual surgeries.^[20] In April 2015, Malta became the first country to end medical interventions to change the sex anatomy of intersex children.^[21]

Several countries protect intersex people from discrimination, including South Africa,^[22] Australia,^[23][24] and Malta.^[25][26][27]

Activism

As being intersex becomes more known all over the world, there are many activist groups created to promote recognizing and supporting members of this community. One big activist group known as the Intersex Society of North America, or INSA, teaches people what being intersex is and the harm that happens of children having gender re-assignment surgery without their permission.^[28]

One of the big issues intersex people face is other people, who are not intersex, making them feel uncomfortable about their sex and gender. Intersex people may not feel the need to identify themselves that they are intersex at all in their lifetimes, wanting to keep being ambiguous. However, those who are not a part of this community feel that people need to chose and be more clear about their genitalia. Activist groups think that this is wrong and an invasion of privacy. They believe intersex people are allowed to be private and deserve to be treated the same as those who are not intersex.^[17]