Treatment for ambiguous genitalia depends of the type of the disorder, but will usually include corrective surgery to remove or create reproductive organs appropriate for the gender of the child. Treatment may also include hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Can people with ambiguous genitalia have kids?
Complications of ambiguous genitalia may include: Infertility. Whether people with ambiguous genitalia can have children depends on the specific diagnosis. For example, genetic females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia usually can get pregnant if they so choose.
Is ambiguous genitalia an emergency?
A defect at any level can lead to sexual ambiguity. The newborn with ambiguous genitalia constitutes a major social and medical emergency, as several conditions produce significant salt loss which, if unrecognized, may lead to shock and death.
Is ambiguous genitalia a birth defect?
Ambiguous genitalia is a rare birth defect in which a baby’s external genitals aren’t clearly male or female. The genitals may not be well formed, or the baby may have characteristics of both sexes.
Are ambiguous genitalia rare?
In about 1% of all births, babies have some form of ambiguous genitalia, such as a very large clitoris or very small penis. In more rare cases—between 0.1% and 0.2% of live births—genitalia is so ambiguous that medical specialists are brought in for a consultation.
What does ambiguous genitalia look like?
In a genetic male (1 X and 1 Y chromosome), ambiguous genitalia most often include the following features: A small penis (less than 2 to 3 centimeters, or 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches) that looks like an enlarged clitoris (the clitoris of a newborn female is normally somewhat enlarged at birth).
How do you investigate ambiguous genitalia?
Your medical team will likely recommend these tests:
- Blood tests to measure hormone levels.
- Blood tests to analyze chromosomes and determine the genetic sex (XX or XY) or tests for single gene disorders.
- Ultrasound of the pelvis and abdomen to check for undescended testes, uterus or vagina.
Is ambiguous genitalia the same as intersex?
Ambiguous genitalia, also referred to as intersex or disorders of sexual differentiation, is a rare condition where an infant’s sex organs have not clearly formed as either male or female.
