What are DSDs?
DSDs, or Disorders of Sexual Differentiation, refer to medical conditions where average sexual development does not occur. DSDs can include genitourinary or hormonal disorders, medical issues that may make it difficult to determine a child's sex or conditions that interfere with a patient's sexual and reproductive function.
What are some examples of DSDs?
Examples of DSDs include:
- ambiguous genitalia
- androgen insensitivity
- congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- hypospadias and epispadias
- intersex disorders
- Klinefelter Syndrome
- transgender issues
- Turner Syndrome
- vaginal agenesis and MRKH
What are the causes of DSDs?
- Some disorders are genetic (chromosome variations).
- Some are present at birth (congenital) but not genetic.
- Some are variations in psycho-social development.
- Sometimes the cause is not known.
How are DSDs treated?
DSDs involve conditions that are quite varied, including mild to very significant alterations in reproductive organ development, pubertal development and gender identity. The treatments are likewise quite varied depending on the complexity of the disorder and may include medication, surgery and emotional/psychological support.
What is ambiguous genitalia?
Ambiguous genitalia info
What is androgen insensitivity?
Androgen insensitivity info
What is congenital adrenal hyperplasia?
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia info
What is hypospadias and epispadias?
Hypospadias info
Epispadias is a rare congenital defect affecting the location of the opening of the urethra.
In boys with epispadias, the urethra usually opens on the top or side of the penis, rather than through the tip. Sometimes the urethra is open the entire length of the penis. In girls, the opening is usually between the clitoris and the labia. Sometimes the opening is in the abdomen.
What are intersex disorders?
Someone with an intersex disorder has a mixture of male and female reproductive structures. It is not clear at birth whether the individual is a male or a female.
What is Klinefelter Syndrome?
Klinefelter Syndrome is a genetic disorder in which males have at least one additional X-chromosome. Normally, males have the combination of sex chromosomes XY. But in Klinefelter Syndrome, males have more than one X-chromosome resulting in the combination XXY.
Symptoms of Klinefelter Syndrome vary, although most affected newborn boys appear normal at birth. Many XXY males do not develop the symptoms of Klinefelter, and often live their lives normally. Others, especially those with more than one additional X-chromosome, exhibit more severe disabilities that may affect their physical and developmental abilities and personality.
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