[True hermaphroditism with bilateral ovotestis]

A nineteen years old woman with ambiguous external genitalia was studied. This condition had been previously identified as a newborn, but her parents refused medical attention and it was reared as a girl. At 12-years, she began spontaneous mammary development, appearing pubic and axillary hair, and clitoral enlargement. The menarche occurred at 15-years and it was followed by irregular periods. Physical examination, showed absence of hirsutism and acne, normal mammary development equivalent to grade V of Tanner. The external genitalia showed fused labio-scrotal folds with an small introitus. The urethral meatus was absent and was later located inside the introitus. There was a big phallus similar to an adult penis with a normal glans, flexed by a chordee. Hormonal determinations discarded congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The karyotype was 46,XX and testosterone levels were in adult male range. Pelvic ultrasonography disclosed a normal uterus and both gonads in confirmed by laparoscopy identifying bilateral ovotestis. Testicular tissue was removed and plastic reconstruction of female genitals was done.