Chris Paton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏳️‍🌈 🇪🇺

Not all humans are born XX or XY. Apparently we need a science lesson on intersex chromosomes. People who are intersex have genitals, chromosomes or reproductive organs that don’t fit into a male/female sex binary. Their genitals might not match their reproductive organs, or they may have traits of both. Being intersex may be evident at birth, childhood, later in adulthood or never. Being intersex isn’t a disorder, disease or condition. People who are intersex have reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t fit into an exclusively male or female (binary) sex classification. Intersex traits might be apparent when a person’s born, but they might not appear until later (during puberty or even adulthood). You may never notice their intersex traits externally and you might only find out about them after a surgery or imaging test. Being intersex isn’t a disorder, disease or condition. Being intersex doesn’t mean you need any special treatments or care. But some people who are intersex choose gender affirmation options if their gender doesn’t match the one they were assigned at birth. Being intersex may affect your: •Genitals. •Chromosomes. •Hormones. •Reproductive system. •Gonads (ovaries or testicles). An estimated 1 in 100 Americans is intersex. Around 2% of people worldwide have intersex traits. Experts don’t know what causes being intersex. Some intersex traits can be genetically inherited (passed from one generation to the next in a family). Being intersex might occur due to: •Changes to an androgen hormone receptor gene. •Natural or synthetic hormone exposure occurring during embryo development. •Missing or out-of-place sex-determining region Y gene (SRY). •Other genetic conditions causing abnormal levels of hormones related to genital development. Being intersex can present in about 40 different ways. The most common intersex traits include: •Combination of chromosomes:Everyone inherits sex-linked chromosomes from their parents. People who are male have XY chromosomes. People who are females have XX chromosomes. People who are intersex may have a mix of chromosomes, such as XXY. Or they may have some cells that are XY and some cells that are XX. Or they may have just one X chromosome (XO). Other combinations can occur too. •Mixed genitals and sex organs: A person who is intersex may have ovarian and testicular tissue (ovotestes). For example, you may have genitals that are associated with being assigned male at birth (AMAB), like a penis. At the same time, you may have internal reproductive anatomy or hormone levels more closely associated with being assigned female at birth (AFAB), like estrogen. Sex and gender are not the same. Key differences include: •Sex refers to the male or female label healthcare providers assigned you at birth based on your genitals. This label goes on birth certificates. Chromosomes, hormone levels and reproductive anatomy play roles in determining sex. •Gender is a social construct based on societal or cultural beliefs about how people should act based on their sex. •Gender identity refers to how your feel inside, regardless of the binary male or female label you were assigned at birth. It can influence how you choose to present yourself through your appearance and behaviors. People who are intersex have a range of gender identities, just like everyone else. Some people who are intersex consider their gender to be intersex. Others identify as female, male, nonbinary or a different gender. Being intersex doesn’t affect whether you’re straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or asexual or have another sexual orientation. It’s also not the same as being transgender. A person who is transgender identifies with a gender that’s different than the sex they were assigned at birth. A person who is intersex may be transgender if their gender identity doesn’t match the sex they were assigned or raised as. Source: Cleveland Clinic my.clevelandclinic.org/healt…