Potential autofertility in true hermaphrodites.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Genetics
• Endocrinology

Background:

• True hermaphroditism, characterized by the presence of both ovarian and testicular tissues, is a rare congenital condition.
• Understanding the reproductive potential and pregnancy outcomes in individuals with true hermaphroditism is crucial for clinical management and genetic counseling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze published literature on pregnancies in true hermaphrodites over the past 40 years.
• To investigate the phenomenon of self-fertilization in hermaphroditic mammals and its potential relevance to human cases.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of studies published since 1975 concerning pregnancies in true hermaphrodites.
• Analysis of reported cases, including gonadectomy status, karyotype, pregnancy outcomes, and offspring characteristics.
• Review of literature on autofertilization in non-human hermaphroditic mammals.

Main Results:

• 14 cases of hermaphrodite pregnancies reported, resulting in 26 pregnancies and 20 healthy male births.
• Pregnancies occurred both with and without gonadectomy; karyotypes included 46,XX and 46,XX/46,XY (chimera).
• While self-fertilization has not been reported in humans, ovarian tissues are often functional, and testicular tissues can exhibit spermatogenesis, indicating potential autofertility.

Conclusions:

• True hermaphrodites with functional ovarian and testicular tissues possess the biological capacity for autofertility.
• The majority of offspring from hermaphrodite pregnancies are male, regardless of gonadectomy status or karyotype.
• Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms and incidence of potential self-fertilization in human true hermaphroditism.