The external genitalia manifests as deformities of both men and women, that is, the clitoris is enlarged or has a penis, and the labia on both sides are fused to varying degrees; hypospadias and the labia majora resemble a scrotum with testicles inside, and secondary sexual characteristics can be Female or male. Hermaphroditism is caused by genetic or unknown causes of disordered sexual differentiation or congenital endocrine disorders. Having two organizers of ovaries and testicles in the same human body is called true hermaphroditism. There is only one kind of gonad in the body, but the external genitalia and the subgonad are inconsistent, which is called pseudohermaphroditism, including female pseudohermaphroditism and male pseudohermaphroditism. Hermaphroditism is relatively rare.
(1) True hermaphroditism: People with true hermaphroditism have ovarian and testicular tissues of varying degrees of development. There may be ovaries on one side and testicles on the other side; it may also be ovotestes on one or both sides. Most of the external genitalia are consistent with the adjacent gonads, and more than half of the ovotesticles have fallopian tubes. There is generally a uterus, but its degree of development varies. The gonads in the body may all have secretory functions, and secondary sexual characteristics are determined by dominant sex hormones. Male and female external genitalia are unclear and accompanied by deformities, and the female vulva and vagina are underdeveloped. There are cyclic changes in menstruation after puberty; breast development is like that of women. The karyotype can be divided into 46,XX; 46,XY; or 46,XX/XY mosaicism. This patient with the 46,XX karyotype may carry a submicroscopic Y-chain inherited testis determinant.
(2) Pseudohermaphroditism: ① Female pseudohermaphroditism is the masculinization of women. Except for partial masculinization of the external genitalia, the karyotype and internal reproductive system of such patients are normal women. The external genitalia manifests as enlargement of the clitoris and varying degrees of fusion of the labia majora on both sides. ② Male pseudohermaphroditism is male feminization, which is actually congenital androgen insensitivity syndrome, also known as testicular feminization syndrome. The patient\’s gonads and chromosomes are all male, and the testicles secrete androgens, but the body is insensitive to male hormones. The internal genitalia are undeveloped or underdeveloped, and the external genitalia are female-shaped. The testicles are hidden in the labia, groin, or abdominal cavity. This testicle is prone to malignant transformation after puberty, so it should be removed as soon as possible and treated in the direction of women.
This article is provided by Baidu Reading and is excerpted from \”The Clear \”Conception\” Plan\” Author: Sun Jianqiu and Xie Yingbiao