It’s All About The Birds and The Bees
Many people will not have seen this condition or even heard of it before. Whilst many of us know that snails, slugs and some fish are hermaphrodite, they can be both sexes depending on circumstances, they have male and female reproductive organs.
Hermaphrodite and Intersexuality
Many people will not have seen this condition or even heard of it before. Whilst many of us know that snails, slugs and some fish are hermaphrodite, they can be both sexes depending on circumstances, they have male and female reproductive organs.
Hermaphroditos was the god of Hermaphrodites and effeminate men. He was the son of Hermes and Aphrodite, both the gods of male and female sexuality. Some say he was attracted to the Naiad nymph named Salmakis. She prayed to be reunited with him forever and a god did just that. He blended the two of them together and it was said that men who bathed in her spring came out of the water feeling soft and effeminate.
So from the above we can conclude that it was known about years ago and after all we ALL started off in the womb as females.
When babies are in the womb all the genitals are female, it’s only when the baby starts to produce hormone (testosterone) that if they reach the tissues correctly then external genitals become the penis and the testicles.
Human babies that are born with both sets of sexual organs or at least the characteristics of both organs are now days described as intersex. They are classified in one of three categories.
1. True hermaphrodite, an infant born with ovaries and testicles and also has both sets of sex organs.
2. Female pseudo hermaphrodite, a genetic female with male external sex organs.
3. Male pseudo hermaphrodite, a genetic male with external organs that fail to develop fully resulting in male/female physical characteristics.
Doctors used to operate on these babies before it was determined what sex they should have been. This caused many to grow up as males in female bodies or females in male bodies. It only become apparent what sex they should be when they reached adolescence and the female body starts to develop breasts and the hips become fuller and the males start to have voice changes and grow hair on their faces.
Now days it is much more accounted for and doctors and medical surgeons can help enormously when the child decides what sex they should be. They will grow up with a healthier view on their sexuality as long as their family understand and everything is explained with feeling, calmness and love.
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User Comments
cutedrishti8
On October 12, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Unique piece to share…
cardy
On October 12, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Fab work from you great article good work.
ken bultman
On October 12, 2009 at 12:29 pm
That explains everything. Just kidding. Good article and you’re right. It’s a little known phenomenon that results in some secretive surgeries and some difficult explanations and even more difficult understanding.
Christine Ramsay
On October 12, 2009 at 1:10 pm
A very interesting and well wriiten article. Well done.
Christine
sunshine926
On October 12, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Interesting article. well-written.
Vikram Chhabra
On October 12, 2009 at 2:41 pm
This was all new to me. Thanks!
STEVE666
On October 12, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Well I certainly learn a lot, reading your articles, Lilly. Thanks.
B Nelson
On October 12, 2009 at 3:12 pm
heard about it.. I also heard that sometimes parents were given the choice if they wanted a girl or boy and the surgery was done for that – but mistakes were made, yes its better to wait until the person is older – still very bizarre
Lostash
On October 12, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Better to wait I guess, but what an agonising wait that must be too. Great article Lily!
Frances Lawrence
On October 12, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Very interesting. There was a program on the radio about this a couple of weeks ago. They can do tests now to find out accurately what sex the person should be, so it is not necessary to wait until puberty. It must be very hard for the parents and for the child.
Ruby Hawk
On October 12, 2009 at 9:12 pm
I have read about these things and was aquainted years ago with such a person. He or she didn’t decide on either sex. He wore mens shoes, a womans skirt, a mans shirt and tie, and a mans hat. He seemed to do very well that way.
deep blue
On October 13, 2009 at 12:28 am
I was reminded of Freddie Mercury when he sang that famous Queen song “I want to break free”. A well written piece, Lisa. Hermaphroditos was deeply honored for this piece explaining the ordeals of his/her bloodline.
mo hoyal
On October 13, 2009 at 1:32 am
Lillyrose,
This was incredibly interesting and informative. I wasn’t aware of the extent of this. Thank you so much for a wonderful contribution!
giftarist
On October 13, 2009 at 8:53 am
Very interesting indeed and great collection of info and at the same time unique.. Great job!
Papa Sparks
On October 13, 2009 at 8:55 am
Well-written and an interesting read.
jaysland
On October 13, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Lillyrose, you have done it again, raves here. I imagine life to be very confusing for these people. I guess in his/her heart of hearts can figure it out, eventually. It would have to be awful tough to deal with this issue. God bless those who can love and help them through this condition.
Paul Griffiths
On October 13, 2009 at 12:56 pm
It’s great that they now allow the child themselves to decide which gender they want to be. I imagine they still lead a difficult life in a lot of ways, though, as our society is still backward when it comes to dealing with sexual issues.
Great article!
LilRoastBeef
On October 13, 2009 at 1:09 pm
You have some of the most interesting content. In some cultures they believe there are 3 sexes. Male, Female, and Intersex. Great read!!
writing4angels
On October 14, 2009 at 6:01 am
Very interesting, especially the description about the God Hermes.
Peter Cimino
On October 14, 2009 at 6:28 pm
WOW!! What an education I got reading this. Wonderful piece on a controversial topic.
Valerie Curtiss
On October 15, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Hemaphroditism does run in my family and you are correct, back in the day when science was not as enlightened as today, it was often the choice of the parents as to what the doctors would do for the child, and you are correct, many were trapped inside the wrong sex body. Thank heaven today we have tests that can determine which sex the baby should be. Good job with this article.
Guy Hogan
On October 16, 2009 at 10:52 pm
I did not know this. The longer I live the more I learn. Just think of all the tragedy that could have been avoided if society knew these medical facts years ago.
gdfaisal
On October 17, 2009 at 11:52 am
very informative…
Teves
On October 17, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Nice one…
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