Intersex

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Female reproductive anatomy

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Intersex

Alternative Names:

Disorders of sex development; DSDs; Pseudohermaphroditism; Hermaphroditism; Hermaphrodite

Symptoms:

The symptoms associated with intersex will depend on the underlying cause, but may include:

Ambiguous genitalia at birth
Micropenis
Clitoromegaly (an enlarged clitoris)
Partial labial fusion
Apparently undescended testes (which may turn out to be ovaries) in boys
Labial or inguinal (groin) masses -- which may turn out to be testes -- in girls
Hypospadius (the opening of the penis is somewhere other than at the tip; in females, the urethra [urine canal] opens into the vagina)
Otherwise unusual appearing genitalia at birth
Electrolyte abnormalities
Delayed or absent puberty
Unexpected changes at puberty

Signs and tests:

Chromosome analysis
Hormone levels (for example, testosterone level)
Hormone stimulation tests
Electrolyte tests
Specific molecular testing
Endoscopic examination (to verify the absence or presence of a vagina or cervix)
Ultrasound or MRI to evaluate whether internal sex organs are present (for example, a uterus)

Review Date: 2/13/2006
Reviewed By: Alan Greene, MD, Chief Medical Officer, A.D.A.M., Inc.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.