Male Pseudohermaphroditism

Male pseudohermaphroditism is an old clinical term characterized by having testes but also having female external genitalia. It is caused by genetic mutations during the prenatal stage. This condition is termed as intersex or disorders of sex development, a group of conditions where there is a mismatch of the external and internal genitals.

In the case of male pseudohermaphroditism, now called XY intersex, the individual has XY or male chromosomes but the external genitalia (penis, urethra, and scrotum) are ambiguous or distinctly female. The genitalia may also contain a vagina. His testes may be normal, malformed, or even absent. He may also be mistaken as a woman due to his feminized features. This condition is often difficult to diagnose at birth since secondary sexual characteristics surface during puberty. Surgery is sometimes performed to match the external genitalia with the individual’s gender. Also see hermaphrodite and chimera.