Q56: Indeterminate sex and pseudohermaphroditism

Q56.1: Male pseudohermaphroditism, not elsewhere classified

The X chromosome and the Y chromosome determine a person’s biological gender. Men normally have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. Women normally have 2 X chromosomes.

While developing in the womb, many different types of tissue develop in the body. The organs and body parts develop out of the various types of tissue. The internal and external genital organs also develop during the time in the womb. Male and female sex hormones are important for the development of the genital organs.

Your external genital organs resemble female genital organs. This can happen even though the biological sex is male and testicles have developed.

There can be various reasons for genital organs not developing in accordance with biological sex. It may be, for example, that the male sex hormones are not produced as they normally are. Certain tissues in the body may also not properly respond to the male sex hormones.