Navigating the Unspoken Realities of Intersex Lives

What do you call a person born half male and half female?

Intersex as a general term, Hermaphrodite as a more specific descriptor.

In most parts of Africa intersex condition is regarded as a taboo, it's associated to witchcraft. Many families have turned to hide such children from the society and some who don't know that this is natural turn to feel like they have no place in the Society. 

I think the society needs to be educated to embrace intersex people and be sensitized to help them accept who they are. They didn't chose to be born that way. They long to be treated as normal people. 

Most of them know which of their reproductive organ is more active and need the love and support of their loved ones to make the decision to eliminate one Incase it poses a medical threat . If not the society have to be thought to accept them without being judgmental. Many of them are battling with low self-esteem and will go down the suicide lane once they are discovered and looked termed unusual. The world needs to understand that these people didn't chose to be this way and focus on getting adiquate medical resources to make their sex lives normal.

Let's get a little bit about this condition;

Hermaphrodite is a person (or plant or animal) that has both male and female sexual organs. Hermaphrodites are rare. This is an unusual word for an unusual condition: being a boy and a girl at the same time. This happens to a small number of people who have the reproductive organs of both men and women.

hermaphrodites can be divided into two main groups: simultaneous and sequential hermaphrodites. Simultaneous hermaphrodites can produce both mature eggs and sperm at the same time.

Many people who are intersex can get pregnant. While people who are intersex may have differences in their anatomy, chromosomes, and/or hormones that can impact their ability to get pregnant, many intersex people have ovaries and/or testes that can produce eggs or sperm, which can lead to a pregnancy.

It would be due to an intersex condition leading to a hermaphroditic state. According to medicine, it is almost never some 50/50 proposition and there are many hermaphrodites that never become aware of their condition through their daily life, but only during more invasive examination due to some other issue.

I came across the story of Maya Posch which is a typical example of the unspoken plight and realities of what a hermaphrodite goes through on a daily bases. 

*What is it like to be born with both male and female reproductive parts?*

I found out about having both male and female genitals when I was in my early 20s. The following years I found out that in addition to a penis (regular sized), I also have ovaries, a vagina (closed off due to merged labia) and after a confusing first puberty with neither distinctly male nor female hormone levels, I started going through a second puberty a few years ago during which my ovaries began to produce regular female levels of oestrogens.

As far as I’m aware, I have both XX and XY chromosomes, on account of being the result of twin embryos merging early in the development cycle (traces were found of a second embryo when I was born). Basically this means that I am a twin-in-one, or my own brother and sister.

I had two testicles (undeveloped) which were removed a few years ago. The biopsy showed that I was never fertile as a male, and that these testicles would never have produced regular male levels of testosterone (I only had like 25% of male levels). Whether I have eggs in my ovaries is currently unknown.

I guess the main sensation of having been born like this is one of confusion and isolation. I have no role models or existing (historical) figures to follow in this. Medical science is also confused and sometimes hostile towards someone like me. I’m currently dealing with chronic pains which may be a side-effect of my intersex condition, but since I have not found a doctor with a clue who wants to help me, I do not know what is going on here.

Meanwhile I suffered severe PTSD over the past years as a result of my experiences with doctors, psychologists and other unpleasant events. My difficulty determining who and what I truly am made me very vulnerable over the past years, allowing others to take advantage of me.

It’s hard not to give into negativity and simply assume that this world does not want to see people like me alive. Doctors have tried their best to convince me that I had to be transgender and force me through mutilation therapy (i.e. transgender treatment, resulting in the ripping out of either the male or female side with any surgery).

To be frank, I do not know whether there is a place in this world for people like us. Not when there’s so much negativity and bias against us.

To raise awareness and sensitize the world about intersex individuals, we can consider the following initiatives:

1. **Education Programs:** Develop educational materials and programs to be implemented in schools and communities that provide accurate information about intersex conditions, dispelling myths and promoting understanding.

2. **Community Workshops:** Organize workshops or seminars in local communities to facilitate open discussions about intersexuality, fostering empathy, and answering questions from community members.

3. **Media Campaigns:** Utilize various media platforms, including TV, radio, and social media, to share stories of intersex individuals, highlight their challenges, and emphasize the importance of acceptance.

4. **Collaborate with Health Professionals:** Work with healthcare professionals to ensure accurate and compassionate information is shared within the medical community, reducing stigma and improving patient care for intersex individuals.

5. **Legal Advocacy:** Advocate for legal protection and recognition of intersex rights, ensuring that they are not discriminated against and have equal opportunities in various aspects of life.