Intersex

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Female reproductive anatomy

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

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
• Hypospadias (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

• 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: 02/13/2006
Reviewed By: Alan Greene, MD, Chief Medical Officer, A.D.A.M., Inc.