Blog Archives

Clitoromegaly means that the clitoris is larger than expected.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) refers to any of several genetic conditions affecting the production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Most of these conditions also result in altered production of sex steroids (hormones) by the adrenals, and can alter development … Continue reading →

A cosmetic surgery is one that only affects appearance, rather than making a body part work better or curing an illness.

This usually means the name of a cause of a DSD (for instance, “congenital adrenal hyperplasia” or “complete androgen insensitivity syndrome”). Doctors decide on a diagnosis by considering the signs and symptoms, the family history, and the results of various … Continue reading →

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an androgen (male sex hormone) produced by converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. DHT is an important factor in the development of male genitalia before birth.

When a less common path of sex development is taken, the condition is often called a “disorder of sex development” or DSD. DSDs happen in animals as well as humans.

Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) is defined by the 2006 “Consensus Statement on Intersex Disorders” as “congenital conditions in which development of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomic sex is atypical.” The definitions of such older terms such as “hermaphrodite” and ““intersex” … Continue reading →

An elective medical procedure is one that is not immediately needed, so the patient, rather than the doctor, can choose whether or not and when to have the procedure.

Estrogens are hormones (molecules, or chemical messengers) mainly produced in the ovaries, but also produced to a lesser extent in the adrenal glands and testes. They are responsible for certain types of secondary sex characteristics, like breast development. Estrogens are … Continue reading →

While “sex” usually refers to a person’s physical anatomy, the term “gender” usually refers to mental, social, and cultural characteristics, regardless of anatomy, related to being a boy, girl, man, or woman in our society.