Intersex is an umbrella term for differences in sex traits or reproductive anatomy. Intersex people are born with these differences or develop them in childhood.
There are many possible differences in genitalia, hormones, internal anatomy, or chromosomes, compared to the usual two ways that human bodies develop. Some intersex traits are noticed at birth. Intersex people often face shameβor are forced or coerced into changing their bodies, usually at a very young age. Most surgeries to change intersex traits happen in infancy. The word intersex also invokes a community. Intersex people are diverse, coming from all socioeconomic backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders and orientations, faiths, and political ideologies.
We are united by. Some intersex people have reclaimed these words for themselves, but they are usually considered a slur. There are many ways to have an intersex body, but it is not possible for one person to have both a fully developed penis and vagina. It might suggest that intersex people are monsters, or not of this world. Many intersex people still see this slur used in their medical records. Many natural human differences have been framed as medical problems, until communities fought for acceptance.
How many intersex people are born each year? What are the statistics? Even in countries where most births happen in hospitals, these are hard questions to answer. This is largely because no one is required to track this information. But we do know that being intersex is very common. About 1. These estimates are based on work by Dr.
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Anne Fausto-Sterling , who reviewed medical literature from Most intersex traits are random, although some do run in families. To be technically specific, some reasons why intersex traits might develop include:. Science is always looking for something to explain natural variation: a gay gene, transgender brain difference, cause of autism, etc.
