According to the Intersex Society of North America, intersex is a general term describing when a person is born with anatomy that doesn’t fit typical definitions of female-aligned or male-aligned. A person might be born as female-aligned on the outside, but having male-aligned anatomy. Other words for intersex you may hear is hermaphrodite or eunuch, but these terms are highly stigmatized and misleading.
The anatomy doesn’t always show up at birth. Sometimes a person doesn’t know they have it until they reach puberty, or find themselves infertile. Intersex people face stigmatization and discrimination from birth, or from discovery of an intersex trait, such as from puberty. This may include infanticide, abandonment and the stigmatization of families. Globally, some intersex infants and children, such as those with ambiguous outer genitalia, are surgically or hormonally altered to create more socially acceptable sex characteristics. However, this is considered controversial, with no firm evidence of favorable outcomes. Such treatments may involve sterilization.
ISNA works to build a world free of shame, secrecy, and unwanted genital surgeries for anyone born with what someone believes to be non-standard sexual anatomy.
Some forms signal underlying metabolic concern. A person who thinks this might describe them should seek a diagnosis.
If you feel you could be intersex, there are resources for you.
For more information about how you may know if you are intersex, visit The Intersex Society of North America.
For advocacy and policy related information, visit interACT Advocates.
Visit my resource hub for more LGBTQIA+ resources.
« Back to Glossary Index