What does “intersex” mean?
Intersex (previously referred to as hermaphrodite) refers to a condition because of which an individual may have sex chromosomes, anatomy or physiology that are not socially considered standard for either male or female. Intersex conditions are often visible at birth, but some develop later during puberty. There is no single “intersex body;” intersex encompasses a wide variety of conditions that do not have anything in common other than that they are deemed “abnormal” by the medical establishment.
A. Intersex is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male. Terms such as VSD (Variations in Sexual Development) are sometimes used to replace intersex. The related term hermaphrodite was introduced in the nineteenth century and is used by some intersex people but is now considered problematic.
