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This is an accepted version of this page This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 24 February 2025. Atypical congenital variations of sex characteristics This article is about intersex in humans. For intersex in other animals, see Intersex (biology). Not to be confused with Hermaphrodite. Intersex topics Human rights and legal issues Compulsory sterilization Discrimination Human ...
The individuals of many taxonomic groups of animals, primarily invertebrates, are hermaphrodites, capable of producing viable gametes of both sexes. In the great majority of tunicates, mollusks, and earthworms, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which either partner can act as the female or male.
Isidore of Seville (c. 560–636) described a hermaphrodite fancifully as those who "have the right breast of a man and the left of a woman, and after coitus in turn can both sire and bear children." [26] Under Roman law, as many others, a hermaphrodite had to be classed as either male or female. [27]
Canon lawyer Henry of Segusio argues that a "perfect hermaphrodite" where no sex prevailed should choose their legal gender under oath. [15] [16]Henry de Bracton's De Legibus et Consuetudinibus Angliae ("On the Laws and Customs of England", c. 1235) [17] classifies mankind as "male, female, or hermaphrodite", [18] and a "hermaphrodite is classed with male or female according to the ...
46,XX/46,XY chimeric or mosaic is associated with a wide spectrum of different physical presentations, with cases ranging from having a completely normal male or female phenotype [7] [8] [9] to some cases having ovotesticular syndrome. Due to this variation, genetic testing is the only way to reliably make a diagnosis. [11] [12] [13] [6]
The 12th-century Decretum Gratiani states that "Whether an hermaphrodite may witness a testament, depends on which sex prevails". [7] [8] [9] The foundation of common law, the 16th Century Institutes of the Lawes of England described how a hermaphrodite could inherit "either as male or female, according to that kind of sexe which doth prevaile."
Pseudohermaphroditism is an outdated [1] term for when an individual's gonads were mismatched with their internal reproductive system and/or external genitalia. The term was contrasted with "true hermaphroditism" (now known as ovotesticular syndrome), a condition describing an individual with both female and male reproductive gonadal tissues.
Intersex people were historically termed hermaphrodites, "congenital eunuchs", [2] [3] or even congenitally "frigid". [4] Such terms have fallen out of favor, now considered to be misleading and stigmatizing. [ 5 ]