According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), "intersex [hermaphrodite] is a group of conditions where there is a discrepancy between the external genitals and the internal genitals [the testes and ovaries.]" Hermaphrodite is derived from the names of two Greek gods: Hermes, the god of male sexuality, and Aphrodite, the goddess of female sexuality. The term is actually an antiquated term for the condition. According to the NIH, hermaphrodite is no longer used in medical literature because it is "misleading, confusing and insensitive." Instead, the conditions are called disorders of sex development (DSD) or intersex.
Sex Chromosomes
XX are the female sex chromosomes, while XY are the male sex chromosomes. If the patient is missing one of the sex chromosomes, the missing sex chromosome is labeled with an O, such as XO. Human beings normally have 46 chromosomes. Thus, if a patient is missing a chromosome, he will have 45 chromosomes; if a patient has an extra chromosome, he will have 47 chromosomes.
46, XX Intersex
The first type of intersex is 46, XX intersex. According to the NIH, in this condition the patient has female chromosomes, XX, and ovaries; however, the patient also has male external genitalia. A female fetus having excessive exposure to male hormones before being born causes 46, XX intersex. The hormones result in the fusing of the fetus' labia and elongation of the clitoris so that it appears like a penis.
46, XY Intersex
The second type of intersex is 46, XY intersex. According to the NIH, the patient has male chromosomes, but the external genitals have not been completely formed. As a result, the external genitalia appear either ambiguous or female. In addition, the internal genitalia (testes) can be normal, malformed or not present.
True Gonadal Intersex
The third type of intersex, true gonadal intersex, is the condition most commonly thought of as hermaphroditic. The patient has both ovarian and testicular tissues; in addition, the patient can have one of each gonad, or just one type of gonad (ovaries or testes). According to the NIH, the patient's chromosomes can be XX, XY or both. The genitalia can be ambiguous, or develop as either male or female.
Complex or Undetermined Intersex Disorders of Sexual Development
The last type of intersex, complex or undetermined intersex disorders of sexual development, does not have the same issues with internal or external genitalia. Instead, the patient has problems with an altered number of sex chromosomes, sex hormone levels and sexual development. According to the NIH, patients with complex or undetermined intersex disorders of sexual development have either 45, XO, 47, XXY or 47, XXX. Thus, complex or undetermined intersex disorders of sexual development either have fewer or more sex chromosomes.
