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On the causes of hermaphroditism in humans, its diagnosis and treatment

Hermaphroditism in humans (true) pathological violation of a congenital nature, caused by the presence of two types of gonads – testis and ovary (ant. razdelyaet). Sometimes uncharacteristic gonadal recruitment of a mixed structure (ovotestis). Symptoms of true hermaphroditism are not the typical characteristics, it all depends on what is the gonad in the body is most active. Treatment, causes, and diagnosis in each individual case.

Overall, the "duopolist" can be described as a malformation of the reproductive system, when the dual diagnosis identify symptoms (men and women). As a rule, doctors mean it about the form when there are signs of development of the internal genital glands of one sex and the external organs from the other (or with symptoms of apparent "duopolistic").

Duality: mystery and reality

Even during the full equality of gender difference have not lost their relevance, and the possibility of combining in one body male and female features is still considered amazing. Pathology has always been surrounded by a cloud of mysticism, and the notion of deviation came from Greek mythology as the result of a merger of two names: Aphrodite and Hermes.

To the child the hermaphrodite has always been treated in different ways: with fear, with reverence, as to curse or degradation of the family. Diagnosis of causes, and especially the treatment of such "otherness" was conducted. Fortunately, in today's world everything has a scientific and reasonable explanation.

True hermaphroditism. Only in the world of medical practice, there is no more than 200 descriptions of patients. Not the example most often gynecologists, and andrology describe the symptoms (and causes) of false hermaphroditism: when surveyed in the diagnosis find symptoms that define the simultaneous razdelnogo – sex glands of one sex and external organs of the intimate other.

True hermaphroditism, mertformin (classification):

  • When dominated by a male or a female secondary sex characteristic.
  • When revealed clear signs of equal "performance" from both sexes.
  • When there is the sexual organ of one sex, and gonad – opposite (sexual type transsexualism).

Options true hermaphroditism accompanied by anomalies of the external genitalia:

  • A full set of external sexual organs of men (women) with "patches" of one or more elements from the other sex.
  • An incomplete set of genitals of the two sexes.
  • Dual and of a full sexual a set of external sexual organs, both men and women.

But most often diagnosis "shows" false hermaphroditism, and that the female, with congenital adrenogenital syndrome.

Why is this happening?

Modern causesthe birth of children "descendants of Hermes and of Aphrodite" rather prosy. Spontaneous breakage in the hereditary information during pregnancy, when there is change of chromosomes or genes (in the early stages of the formation of the embryo), is associated with a number of the following reasons:

  • Chemical and toxic poisons (abuses or receiving prohibited medication).
  • Exposure.
  • The impact of biofaktory (viruses, bacteria, toxoplasmosis).
  • Changes in hormonal balance in the mother and fetus.

An excess of androgens in the female fetus leads to the formation of the genitalia of the male type and on the contrary, when the fetus-a boy with a lack of testosterone develop female intimate characteristics, what happens when:

  • Diseases of the adrenal glands.
  • Pathology of the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland.
  • Tumors in the gonads.

Despite the almost perfect science, the reasons for developing "duprost" in its true form, is far from clear. Some scientists suggest hereditary reasons, as diagnosis revealed some nepotism like pathology.

How does it look?

Not always the symptoms of sexual androgyny is shown to the world in all its glory, in most cases, an ordinary person can not guess that your best friend or colleague is not quite who he says he is.

Symptoms pathology and appear in various matter what were the causes or form of hermaphroditism:

  • Underdevelopment of the penis.
  • The discrepancy between body and voice (female type) the specified floor in the passport (men's).
  • Changes in the structure of the genital organs or of their complete mismatch to the floor stated in the passport.
  • "Resettlement" of the urethra with the head in the other departments of the perineum.
  • Early puberty.
  • Cryptorchidism, a curvature of the penis.
  • Developed mammary glands in men.
  • Infertility, lack of normal sex life.

False male hermaphroditism – a condition when visually male genitalia resemble the female due to improper development during fetal life. The child is often recorded as "the girl", the treatment is not carried out, his parents are raising accordingly, but when a fatal mistake open, it brings the boy with false hermaphroditism a lot of psychological problems.

Few reliable facts about androgyny:

  • This condition is often congenital, in more rare cases, experts have to state the signs to the opposite sex, puberty.
  • In adulthood the symptoms of duprost" appear because of hormonal medications.
  • Sometimes the pathology is not diagnosed for a long periodpeople even marry, it is socially adapted. Diagnosis is carried out for infertility, difficulties in intimate life, with occasional complaints of pain in the abdominal cavity, the testes, the male, not descended into the scrotum).
  • Sometimes "duprost" is combined with mental disabilities, mental disorders that manifest in dementia, increased libido and total breakdown of morality.

But since the deviation is a combination of the characteristics of the two sexes in the prevalence of both male and female sex type, the exact symptoms of the disease does not exist, they will be radically different in each case.

In addition, symptoms in young children may not manifest itself principally, as in true and false form of disease, as transvestism, homosexuality, bisexuality or transsexualism. Early detection of symptoms of hermaphroditism complicated and is entirely the responsibility of pediatricians who must clearly understand and know the detailed differences are possible sexual deviance. If there is any suspicion the children are sent for consultation in a urological or gynaecological Department. The diagnostics will be assigned the most viable treatment.

How to conduct a survey?

Diagnosis is made on the following parameters:

  • The history of the disease.
  • During pregnancy the child's mother.
  • Have you identified any abnormalities in the health of the newborn, have you noticed any anomalies.
  • In older age set the course of puberty.
  • Adult men (women): are there any problems in sex life, infertility, reduction of libido etc.
  • Physical examination can detect the presence of secondary sexual characteristics.
  • Inspection urologist will help to establish the presence/absence of sexual deviance.
  • Karyotyping is a method of studying chromosomes in humans, its size and composition, which will allow genetically to determine the sex of the patient.
  • Diagnosis based on ultrasound, MRI helps to reveal what is hidden are available at the doctor examination, and give an accurate conclusion about the true structure of man.
  • The blood and urine tests for hormones.

Diagnosis of the individual, the patient will have to undergo a complete examination using, if necessary, oncospecific methods. Treatment is the use of hormone therapy and surgical methods.

Therapeutic interventions

Treatment of deviation is absolutely different from traditionally used therapy and is based on the fact that the proved diagnosis. Treatment guidelines combine the basics of hormonal, surgical, and psychotherapeutic techniques.

Hormone treatment involvesreception:

  • Thyroid stimulating hormone (thyroid).
  • Sexual hormones.
  • Means acting on the regulatory function of the pituitary gland.
  • Glucocorticoids.

Surgical treatment is carried out depending on which gender will be a priority – in the male or female type. Psychotherapeutic treatment is necessary in order to form the "new man" a correct idea about the selected field, to correct his behavior, way of thinking, principles of clothing selection.