Are some babies born neither male or female?
Yes, some babies are born with conditions that make their sex or gender unclear, and this can occur in about 1 in every 1,500 births. These conditions, known as Disorders of Sex Development (DSD), can result in babies being born with ambiguous genitalia, atypical chromosomes, gonads, or hormone levels that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.
Understanding Disorders of Sex Development
What are Disorders of Sex Development?
Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) are conditions where the chromosomes, gonads, or genitalia do not develop typically, making it difficult to classify a baby as male or female.
FAQs about Babies Born with DSD
Q1: Is it possible to be born genderless?
Yes, it is possible for a baby to be born with ambiguous genitalia, which can make it difficult to determine their sex at birth.
Q2: How rare is it to be born without a gender?
The occurrence of babies born with ambiguous genitals is estimated to be in the range of 1:4500–1:2000, which translates to about 0.02%–0.05% of births.
Q3: Are there people born without a specific gender?
Yes, people born with intersex traits have sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.
Q4: What is Aligender?
Aliagender refers to a gender experience that is ‘other’, or does not fit into existing gender constructs.
Q5: Can a hermaphrodite have both working parts?
Yes, hermaphrodites can have both male and female reproductive systems, although only simultaneous hermaphrodites can have both systems functioning at the same time.
Q6: What percentage of humans are hermaphrodite?
It is estimated that up to 1.7 percent of the population has an intersex trait, with approximately 0.5 percent having clinically identifiable sexual or reproductive variations.
Q7: How many biological sexes are there?
A person’s biological sex is usually classified as female, male, or intersex, depending on their chromosomes, reproductive organs, and other characteristics.
Q8: What is a Demiboy?
A demiboy is someone whose gender identity is partially masculine but not entirely binary.
Q9: What does an intersex baby look like?
An intersex baby may have genitalia that appear both male and female, or their genitalia may not be fully developed.
Q10: Can a boy become a girl?
Yes, it is possible for a person to transition from one gender to another through various processes, including hormone therapy and surgery.
Q11: Has a hermaphrodite ever had a baby?
There have been reported cases of hermaphrodites becoming pregnant and giving birth, although these cases are extremely rare.
Q12: Do intersex people have periods?
Some intersex individuals may experience menstruation, although it can be irregular or difficult to manage due to differences in genitalia and hormone levels.
Q13: Is intersex and hermaphrodite the same thing?
Intersex is an umbrella term that includes hermaphroditism, which refers to a condition where an individual has both male and female reproductive organs.
Q14: What country has the most hermaphrodites?
True hermaphroditism is more common in Southern Africa, where it is the most common intersex condition.
Q15: What percent of Americans are intersex?
It is estimated that about 1.7 percent of the population, or around 5.6 million people in the United States, are born intersex.