What is intersex?

Last updated January 26th, 2021.

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What is the definition of intersex?

The intersex flag, a yellow background with a purple circle in the center, representing bodily autonomy and wholeness

The intersex flag, created in 2013 by Morgan Carpenter of Intersex Human Rights Australia.

The I in LGBTQIA+ stands for “intersex.”

Intersex is an umbrella term for differences in sex traits or reproductive anatomy. Intersex people are born with these differences or develop them in childhood. There are many possible differences in genitalia, hormones, internal anatomy, or chromosomes, compared to the usual two ways that human bodies develop.

Some intersex traits are noticed at birth. Others don’t show up until puberty or later in life. Intersex people often face shame—or are forced or coerced into changing their bodies, usually at a very young age. Most surgeries to change intersex traits happen in infancy.

The word intersex also invokes a community. Intersex people are diverse, coming from all socioeconomic backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders and orientations, faiths, and political ideologies. We are united by

  1. our experiences living with variations in our sex traits,
  2. the belief that these differences are a natural part of human diversity,
  3. the idea that people deserve their own choices about their own bodies.

Is intersex the same thing as being a “hermaphrodite?”

No. “Hermaphrodite” (or the shortened “herm”) should never be used to describe an intersex person. Some intersex people have reclaimed these words for themselves, but they are usually considered a slur. There are many ways to have an intersex body, but it is not possible for one person to have both a fully developed penis and vagina.

The “h word” comes from mythology. It might suggest that intersex people are monsters, or not of this world. Many intersex people still see this slur used in their medical records.

Is intersex the same thing as “Disorder of Sex Development?”

“Disorder” or “difference of sex development” (DSD) is still a common medical term for intersex traits. Many intersex people reject the term “DSD” because it supports the idea that their bodies are wrong, or up to doctors to “fix.” Advocates in the United States often bring up the fact that until 1973, being gay was considered a mental disorder. Many natural human differences have been framed as medical problems, until communities fought for acceptance.

interACT generally does not use the term DSD. See interACT’s statement on DSD terminology.

How common is intersex?

How many intersex people are born each year? What are the statistics? Even in countries where most births happen in hospitals, these are hard questions to answer. This is largely because no one is required to track this information. But we do know that being intersex is very common.

About 1.7% of people are born intersex. (Compare that to a ~0.3% chance of having identical twins!) 1 in 2,000 babies (0.05% of humans) are born with genital differences that a doctor might suggest changing with unnecessary surgery.

These estimates are based on work by Dr. Anne Fausto-Sterling, who reviewed medical literature from 1955-1998. (Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality, 2000)

What causes intersex?

Most intersex traits are random, although some do run in families. To be technically specific, some reasons why intersex traits might develop include:

  • translocation or deletion of the SRY (“Sex-determining Region Y”) gene,
  • variations in the AR (“Androgen Receptor”) gene, an enzyme deficiency leading to increased androgen production, and
  • contact with outside hormones during pregnancy.

There’s a long history of abuse in attempts to prevent or “cure” intersex differences. “Why” is a very common question when it comes to human difference. Science is always looking for something to explain natural variation: a gay gene, transgender brain difference, cause of autism, etc. But as intersex people know, “why” can be a very dangerous question. When differences can be seen or measured on bodies, they can be changed. Surgeries to change intersex traits often happen at a young age, without a person’s knowledge or consent.

What is intersex surgery?