The hermaphrodite person is one who has two genital organs, both male and female, at the same time, and can be identified at birth. The causes of hermaphroditism are not yet well established, but one of the theories is that there were genetic changes during the development of the baby.
Another form of hermaphroditism is where the child is born with a well-defined external genital region, but has other important gonadal changes, such as a boy who, when he reaches adolescence, menstruates and develops breasts, for example.
Treatment for hermaphroditism varies according to the age at which it was identified, and hormone replacement and surgery may be done to define the gender according to the person's identification.
Types of hermaphroditism
Hermaphroditism can be classified into two main types according to the sexual organs present in true hermaphrodite and pseudohermaphrodite, which can be either female or male:
- True hermaphrodite : True hermaphrodite is a rare condition in which the child is born with the well-formed inner and outer male and female sex organs, although only one develops normally, leaving the other atrophied. There are rare cases of true hermaphroditism in which there is the normal development and at the same time of the two genital organs.
- Male Pseudo-Hermaphrodite: The male pseudo-hermaphrodite is one in which the person is born with the female genitalia, but without the ovaries and the uterus, but the testicles are housed inside the pelvic cavity.
- Female Pseudo-Hermaphrodite: The female pseudo-hermaphrodite occurs when the person is born with the ovary, but the male external genitalia is well defined, this usually occurs by the abnormal development of the clitoris, which is then shaped similar to the penis. Understand more about pseudo-hermaphroditism.
The causes of human hermaphroditism have not yet been fully elucidated, but one of the theories is that the ovum may have been fertilized by 2 different spermatozoa or that there have been significant genetic changes during the baby's development.
How to identify
Hermaphroditism can be identified at birth or during adolescence through laboratory and imaging exams. If menstruation occurs in men or the presence of a penile structure in women, it is important to consult a doctor for a diagnosis.
How is the treatment done?
The treatment depends on the age at which the diagnosis was made, and may be through hormone replacement or surgery to define sex. When identified at birth, sex is defined from the characteristics of the birth, and surgery is performed. However, if identified in adolescence, the decision of the sex is made by the person from their social identification.
The hormone replacement is indicated by the doctor to stimulate the development of characteristics related to the sex chosen by the person, it can be done with estrogen, for the development of the female characteristics, or testosterone for the development of the male characteristics.
In addition, it is important to have psychological counseling to aid in the process of acceptance of the body and decrease feelings of anguish and fear, for example.
