Intersexuality is a clinical condition that affects, on average, 1.7% of newborns in the world, according to data from the United Nations.
The subject is little discussed and, for this reason, the last day 26 marked the Intersex Visibility Day.
THE CNN Radio on CNN No Plural +, the head of endocrinology at the Hospital das Clínicas Elaine Frade Costa, responsible for these individuals, explained that these people are born with undefined genitalia.
“Carriers are born with underdeveloped internal and/or external genitals, always resulting from hormonal changes”, he said.
This change is due to a deficiency or excess of sex hormones, whether estrogen or testosterone.
Since 2006, she points out, the most used term is “differences in sexual development” and intersex nomenclature has recently returned.
Before, hermaphrodite was also used.
The service offered at Hospital das Clínicas, according to Elaine, is a reference and, therefore, it has around 500 patients in follow-up.
“Their main demand is an alteration of the genitals,” he said.
She recalls that, when a child is born, the first question is always whether “is it a boy or a girl.”
“For these people, these genitals are undefined, they are in the middle.”
There is intense discussion in the medical community about when to define one of the sexes.
“This individual is gendered, but most of these people need to adapt their body and genitals to their gender, in order to have a full life, from a social, sexual and emotional point of view, so this correction has been much discussed.”
The specialist highlights that, among the patients seen, 100% “answered that they would rather have been treated in childhood and not have gone through adolescence with discrimination; in our experience, the best way is to adapt this individual in childhood.”
The doctor points out that the treatment persists throughout life, with hormone replacement, and multidisciplinary follow-up is necessary, with endocrinologists, surgeons and psychologists.
*With production by Isabel Campos
Source: CNN Brasil
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