Hermaphroditism

Alternative names:

hermaphrodite; intersexual; pseudohermaphroditism

Definition:

A term referring to being of both sexes (intersexual).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

True hermaphroditism requires the presence of both ovarian (female) and testicular (male) reproductive tissue and is relatively rare and poorly understood. Pseudohermaphroditism is more common and from a medical standpoint hermaphroditism suggests two factors:

• ambiguous external genitalia
• genitalia that may not match the genetic make-up of the person (example: female genitalia in an XY, genetically male, individual.)

The following conditions can produce ambiguous genitalia and hermaphroditism:

• congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• fetal exposure to progestins (see progestins - oral) or androgens
• testicular feminization syndrome
• XY gonadal dysgenesis
• XY gonadal agenesis
• chromosomal abnormalities
  • cryptophthalmos
  • Smith-Lemli-Opitz
  • 4p syndrome
  • 13q syndrome