Questions for Intersex People
How do I know if I am intersexed?
You are not alone, many intersexed South Africans do not know they are intersexed.
Many intersexed South Africans have had non-consensual genital surgery performed on them as infants or children making it hard to determine whether or not they are intersexed. Intersexed people who have not had surgery, typically have ambiguous sex organs (not exactly female or male).
Typically intersexed people who are raised as a boy or a girl without knowing about their medical history feel “not right” with who they are biologically. Sexually, intersexed people may have no feeling or pleasure during sexual intercourse due to having genital surgery performed on them. For example some intersexed people may have had an oversized clitoris cut to look more like a “typical” clitoris resulting in a loss of sexual pleasure.
To find out if you are intersexed and you were born in a hospital or have been to a doctor as a child you can try to get a hold of your medical records (information about you that the doctor writes down and keeps in a file when you go to the surgery).
ALSO if it is safe and possible you can talk to your parents or other family members about your medical history as a child.
Intersexuality can be the cause of various medical conditions and that have certain signs and symptoms.
"Toolkit for intersex people"
Common intersex conditions include:
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)
Physically, people with AIS can look either male or female or in between male and female.
People with complete AIS look female. People with partial AIS can look male or female with genitals that do not look completely female or male.
Congenital Adrenal Hypoplasia (CAH)
People with CAH have female internal (inside) reproductive structures such as a vagina, uterus and ovaries. People with CAH will have an enlarged (big) clitoris that may look like a small penis. The gap between the labia (lips) may be slightly closed which may hide the entrance or hole to the vagina.
In females that do not have CAH, the urinary (pee) passage and vagina have two separate entrances or holes. In people with CAH the urinary passage and the vagina can both open into one hole.
Klinefelter’s Syndrome (KS)
People with KS are usually raised as male. During puberty (teenage years) people with KS will most likely have breast development. People with KS most often have low androgen (sex hormone) production and small testes (balls).
Turner’s Syndrome (TS)
People born with TS are often physically short, have breathing problems and do not ovaries (inside reproductive structures).
Hypospadias
Males that do not have Hypospadis have a hole or urethral opening at the tip of their penis.
People with Hypospadias do not have the opening at the tip of their penis instead it is usually the hole will be along the shaft of the penis or along the head (perineum).
How do I access my medical records?
It is your right to access your medical records.
According to the Promotion of Access to Information Act (2000) every South African has a right to access their medical records. Under the act, Health Care providers also have the obligation to keep medical records.
To access medical records:
NEED MORE HELP?? Contact ISSA!
Who can I talk to confidentially in South Africa about intersexuality?
Remember you are not alone, there are many South Africans that are intersexed. It is important to talk to a person you know and can trust. Intersex South Africa offers support groups and a phone line for intersexed people. Additionally there are many LGBTQI organizations throughout South Africa that can offer you support.
If you are interested in finding a counselor just contact Intersex South Africa for more information.
Does this mean I am gay or lesbian?
No, being intersexed does not mean you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. Intersexuality is not about sexual orientation, it is about who you are as a person. Intersexed people can identify as either heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, asexual or transgendered.
What is the John/Joan case?
The John/Joan case is a main reason why genital surgery is performed on intersexed children and infants. “John” was one of a pair of genetically identical Canadian twins born male. The twins were found to suffer from a condition called phimosis, in which the foreskin shrinks over time. The remedy is surgical circumcision. In the case of baby “John”, his penis was accidently cut-off.
On the basis of John Money’s theories, the baby was reassigned surgically as female, becoming “Joan”. The theory predicted that the new gender of rearing would “take”. Money followed up the progress of the twins and reported that things were working out exactly as his theory said it would. This case made genital surgery of intersexed children and infants normal and necessary.
The Truth about the “John/Joan” Case Emerges
The “John/Joan” case had not in fact gone the way John Money had claimed that it had done. His account turned out to be anything but the truth.
From an early age, “Joan” had been deeply uncomfortable with her female gender-role . Early in her teens, she forced her father to tell her the truth, and refused to be a female any more. “Joan” became “John” once again. “John”, whose real name is David Reimer, is married and has adopted children.
What other resources and websites exist to help me learn more as an intersexed person?
Intersex South Africa offers support groups and phone line for intersexed people. If you are interested in learning more about intersexuality contact Intersex South Africa or check-out our links page to learn more about intersexuality.
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What is more fluid, more yielding than water? Yet back it comes again, wearing down the rigid strength which cannot yield to withstand it. So it is that the strong are overcome by the weak, the haughty by the humble.
— Lao Tse
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