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Hermaphroditism

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Hermaphroditism

Definition:

Hermaphroditism is a term referring to being of both sexes (intersexual).

Alternative Names:
Pseudo-hermaphroditism; Hermaphrodite; Intersexual

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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. Pseudo-hermaphroditism is more common. From a medical standpoint, hermaphroditism suggests two factors:

• ambiguous external genitalia
• genitalia that do not match the genetic make-up of the person (example: female genitalia in a genetically male individual)

• congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• fetal exposure to sex hormones
• testicular feminization syndrome
• XY gonadal dysgenesis
• XY gonadal agenesis
• chromosomal abnormalities
  • cryptophthalmos
  • Smith-Lemli-Opitz
  • 4p syndrome
  • 13q syndrome

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