Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) is a genetic disorder that causes individuals who are genetically male (with an X and Y chromosome) to present with physical female characteristics or with a combination of male and female characteristics. It is caused by the body's failure to respond to androgens which are male hormones.

There are variations of AIS. Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) is diagnosed when the individual has the sexual features of a female but does not have a uterus and doesn't menstruate (therefore being infertile). They are genetically male but have the physical features of a female.

Incomplete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome can present itself as the individual having sexual features of both male and female. There is also Mild Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (MAIS) in which the individual has mostly physical male characteristics but they may have mild feminine characteristics.