Intersex and genital ambiguity

Normal sexual differentiation in males and females is described. Discussion of disorders of abnormal sexual development is confined to those producing genital ambiguity. Genital ambiguity is further subdivided into disorders of gonadal development and disorders of fetal endocrinology. Disorders of gonadal development with abnormal sex chromosome constitution include those with and without sexual ambiguity. Only those producing sexual ambiguity, true hermaphroditism and mixed gonadal dysgenesis are discussed further. Disorders of fetal endocrinology are divided into female and male pseudo hermaphroditism. The main features of each are highlighted. A practical method of management of patients with ambiguous genitalia then follows.