Intersex (hermaphrodite)
Intersex (hermaphrodite)
T he most common condition in Costa Rica is a disease that confuses women with men
Franklin Gonzalez Arroyo
farroyo@aldia.co.cr
The Case of the Caster Semenya South Africa is no stranger to Costa Rica. According to experts of the National Children's Hospital in our country five to ten are born with ambiguous genitalia infants each year who have corrected the situation with reconstructive plastic surgery and treatment for life.
Semanya is an athlete who won gold in the 800 meters at the recent World Championships, held last month in Berlin, Germany. First they said it was man, then hermaphrodite.
The IAAF ordered that he be done to determine their gender. Have not yet released the results.
In Costa Rica, one in every 15 000 births has a condition called congenital adrenal hyperplasia, one of many that explain what doctors call ambiguous genitalia. According to the chief of endocrinology at the National Children's Hospital, Erick Richmond, these pathologies are presented once a year.
The cases of ambiguous genitalia or hormonal problems occur because of chromosomal level. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia occurs by a hormonal problem that prevents the body produce cortisone, a substance needed for vital functions.
Girls are born with very elongated clitoris and the labia too large. Therefore, the clitoris looks like a penis and a scrotum lips. In men, there is an early development, but adults have a standard height. They have a big penis and small testicles.
According to sexologist Mauro Fernández, another common disease detected at gynecological testis is the feminizing. This condition occurs when the man left the testes in the abdomen and hormonal problems will not grow the penis resembling a clitoris.
"They grow as women and are usually slender and pretty. Many are detected when they see why they can not have children, "said Fernandez.
None of the above cases correspond to pure hermaphroditism but are pseudohermaphroditism, suggesting a mismatch between what is inside the person (anatomical and chromosomes) and genitalia.
In Costa Rica, all detected cases passed to the National Children's Hospital.
Tendencies
The Children's Hospital experts say that early detection is essential to prevent psychological harm in adulthood. "We have a multidisciplinary teams in charge of chromosomal examinations, blood and genes that determine sex," said Orlando Urroz, deputy director of the hospital. He added: "The surgeon surgery solves the problem (or operate). Ideally, in the first eight days is defined the genre. "
Erick Quesada, a psychologist who works with people like this, explains that the individual's behavior is responsible for defining the genre. "They (doctors) decide the sex of the person, but it is terrible when the individual would otherwise." It does not recommend making these decisions at an early age.
Myths of hermaphroditism
1 Only one is not true that the hermaphrodite (intersex) have penis and vagina at once.
2 Homosexual sexual identity has nothing to do with ambiguous genitalia. May be, but not for that condition.
3 Men Many think they are men who want to be women. This is known as transsexualism.
"Studies are right sex"
Orlando Urroz, deputy director of Children's Hospital
What is the most common in our country?
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Why?
Is hereditary. Sometimes cases are triggered in certain cantons.
Some say that the ideal is to allow the person to decide their gender in adolescence. What do you think?
It is a mistaken theory, new, some extremist groups. From the psychological point of view it is inappropriate for the child and the family. How you going to tell a child to go to kindergarten and say that it is neither man nor woman? That does not work in society.
How do you determine the gender of the person?
When there is suspicion of ambiguous genitalia, a proper degree of certainty is given by the hormonal studies, genetic studies of blood. On the outside, may seem masculine, but in can have one ovary or uterus. It is important to tell your dad, you have a boy or a girl.
Is it an incorrect diagnosis?
The first death and adult psychological damage.
Organization is trying to reunite
The Latin American Space for Sexualities organization and Rights of Costa Rica aims to be the social channel for the intersexed.
Its director, Natasha Jiménez, said that currently get between five and ten people with ambiguous genitalia conditions meetings. The purpose, explained Jimenez, are sharing a space and provide psychological and legal assistance.
The organization provides help to other groups such as lesbian, gay, transgender. www.mulabi.org or 8997-3910, with Natasha.
Taken from www.aldia.co.cr
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