#TuesdayTerms: Intersex

Intersex: Someone whose reproductive or sex anatomy differs from traditionally biologically male or female anatomy

**There are over 30 medical variations of intersex traits!

Some Intersex variations:

Swyer Syndrome – When an individual is born with XY chromosomes but does not develop testes. Instead, they have a vulva and a small uterus. Where the testis would be, the individual develops fibrous tissue called “streaks” which are neither testis nor ovaries.
Turner Syndrome – When someone Assigned Female At Birth has one complete X chromosome and their second is either missing or smaller than usual. Physical symptoms of Turner Syndrome vary but common symptoms include infertility, lack of certain secondary sex characteristics, and shorter-than-average height.
Klinefelter Syndrome – A.K.A XXY syndrome, occurs when someone Assigned Male At Birth has an extra copy of their X chromosome. On top of lower levels of testosterone and sperm production, people with Klinefelter syndrome may also have less muscle mass, less body hair, and wider hips.
Hypospadias and Epispadias – Hypospadias is when the urinary opening is below its usual position on the tip of the penis, located anywhere from just below the tip down to the rectum. Epispadias is another variation in the position of the urinary opening except this condition occurs when the urinary opening is on the upper surface of the penis or in the middle of the clitoris.

Note: Intersex variations are NOT disorders or diseases, there is nothing wrong or abnormal about people who are intersex. Intersex people simply have a less common variation of reproductive or sex chromosomes. Every intersex person is a unique human being with individual interests and personality traits, just like every cisgender, transgender, and gender non-conforming/genderqueer person!