What does ambiguous genitalia mean

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Overview Ambiguous genitalia is a rare condition in which an infant's external genitals don't appear to be clearly either male or female. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references What is ambiguous uncertain genitalia? Urology Care Foundation. Accessed Dec. Houk CP, et al. Evaluation of the infant with atypical genitalia disorder of sex development.

Management of the infant with atypical genitalia disorder of sex development. When the imbalance is managed, she can live a normal life. If the vagina is blocked, surgery would help. This is often done within the first months of life. With vaginal surgery, care is taken to protect clitoral sensitivity. The goal is to prevent injury to the sensory nerves and blood supply. Often, a new opening with vaginal surgery is thin. More surgery may be needed as the child grows. Surgery for boys with severe hypospadias is often successful.

It forms a longer, free penis that can look normal. Any separation of the scrotal sacs would be repaired at the same time. Surgery is done in one or two stages between 6 and 18 months of age. Once healed, the penis grows in pace with normal physical growth. Surgery doesn't harm a boy's ability to feel sensation or have an erection. Girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia can get pregnant after the hormonal treatment. Babies with other conditions must be cared for on a case-by-case basis.

Paternity is often hard to prove. Still, there are many children who grow to have their own children. Not necessarily. The job of the Y chromosome the SRY gene , is to direct a group of cells to form a testis. Even when testis form, they may not be masculinized. This may leave the outer organs looking like a girl's. The gender of the baby can be hard to define. What is more important may be to ask yourself: what future will this child have if raised as a male, or as a female?

Females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia or complete androgen insensitivity tend to do well. They tend to understand their sexual identity and can function well. For males, successful sexual relations can happen after the correction of even severe hypospadias. Ejaculation, though, may be weaker than normal. This is often the case when the penile urethra is rebuilt.

We have come to value the brain as a "sex organ. It could affect gender identity. Medical experts realize that assigning gender is not always clear.

Human sexuality is complex. The sexual choices of anyone, even with physically normal bodies, can be hard to predicted. This web site has been optimized for user experience and security, therefore Internet Explorer IE is not a recommended browser. Thank you. What is Ambiguous Uncertain Genitalia? What Does "Ambiguous Genitalia" Mean? Sex organs develop with three basic steps: The genetic sex is set when the sperm fertilizes the egg.

An XX pair of chromosomes means that the baby is female. An XY pair means that the baby is male. Next, gonads sex glands form into either testis for a boy or ovaries for a girl. Then, the inner reproductive system, and outer genitals develop. Hormones from either the testis or ovaries shape the outer genitals.

DSDs can be passed down from a parent, or have no clear cause. Diagram of the Female Reproductive System Enlarge. Diagram of the Male Reproductive System Enlarge. DSDs can cause a range of problems. Some of the signs include: Sex organs that don't look male or female Menstruation can begin at an odd age Hormonal or electrolyte imbalances Hypospadias can form.

This is where the penis opening is not at the tip, and the testes have not dropped. There are a few DSDs. These are grouped by the way the gonads sex glands form. Too many male hormones cause a girl's external sex organs to become too large.

The clitoris can grow to look like a penis. Sometimes, the parents must choose whether to raise the child as male or female regardless of the child's chromosomes. This choice can have a big social and psychological impact on the child, so counseling is most often recommended.

Note: It is often technically easier to treat and therefore raise the child as female. This is because it is easier for a surgeon to make female genitalia than it is to make male genitalia. Therefore, sometimes this is recommended even if the child is genetically male. However, this is a difficult decision. You should discuss it with your family, your child's provider, the surgeon, your child's endocrinologist, and other health care team members.

Rey RA, Josso N. Diagnosis and treatment of disorders of sexual development. Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; chap White PC. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia and related disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics.

Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Sexual development and identity. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Disorders of sexual development: etiology, evaluation, and medical management. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. Updated by: Neil K. Editorial team. Ambiguous genitalia. In most cases, ambiguous genitalia in genetic females babies with 2 X chromosomes has the following features: An enlarged clitoris that looks like a small penis.

The urethral opening where urine comes out can be anywhere along, above, or below the surface of the clitoris. The labia may be fused and look like a scrotum. The infant may be thought to be a male with undescended testicles. Sometimes a lump of tissue is felt within the fused labia, further making it look like a scrotum with testicles. The urethral opening may be anywhere along, above, or below the penis.

It can be located as low as the perineum, further making the infant appear to be female. There may be a small scrotum that is separated and looks like labia. Undescended testicles commonly occur with ambiguous genitalia.