Ambiguous Genitalia

Ambiguous Genitalia is a form of intersex affecting 0.05% of the population, causing them to have genitals that may have characteristics of wolffian and müllerian sexes or may be incompletely developed and appear androgynous due to it. The external sex organs may not match the internal sex organs or their chromosomes.

Ambiguous genitalia may appear as a large clitoris or as a small penis and/or a fused labia or empty scrotum. individuals with ambiguous genitalia can have any internal sex organs or combination of sex organs, they can have any chromosomes, and their bodies may produce either hormones during puberty.

Infants with ambiguous genitalia are often given nonconsensual surgery to "correct" their genitalia and make them appear more wolffian or müllerian.

Those with ambiguous genitals may or may not also have an ambiguous reproductive system (ovotesticular), though this is often not the case for many intersex variations.

Causes

Wolffian and müllerian sex organs develop from the same tissue. Whether this tissue becomes wolffian organs or müllerian organs depends on the chromosomes and the presence or absence of wolffian hormones in the womb. This means that atypical hormone levels and/or chromosomal abnormalities can cause ambiguous genitalia.

Hermaphrodite

Those with this variation of genitallia are often called 'hermaphrodites,' a common intersex, transsex, and altersex slur that is rude, dehumanizing, and encouraging of fetishists. It also spreads misinformation, as hermaphrodite implies that a individual has both a penis and a vagina, which is not what ambiguous genitalia is, and should not be confused as such.

The term hemaphrodite is reclaimed by some.

History

Many cases of ambiguous genitalia have been around since Ancient Rome, and is seen prevalent in a mythological individual, Hermaphroditus, (previously Aphroditus), who is Aphrodite's son, and due to being forced to merge with a nymph, had ambiguous genitalia and similar intersex traits.