Q: We're having a baby and have chosen not to know the gender. I came across a term, intersex. What does it mean?
A: Intersex refers to people born with genetic, hormonal or physical sex characteristics that do not fit the medical definitions of male or female. In South Africa there is no way to legally recognise people who are intersex and intersex infants are still assigned male or female.
The consensus is that 1.7% of the population has intersex traits (1 to 2 babies in every hundred born). This estimate was published in the American Journal of Human Biology and is the most accurate we have.
It is still common practice that when a child is born intersex, doctors and family decide on a gender and raise the baby as that gender. It is still common for surgery to be done on the baby's genitals and also for the child to be given male or female hormones as they went through puberty.Sometimes the gender picked for a person does not match the gender identity the person grew up to have. The lack of consent to surgery or hormonal therapy remains a concern.
Recent encounters with intersex children, in the public health system, still show parents of newborns are pressured into decisions, often with strict timelines, with minimal consultation and are scheduled for "corrective" surgery on newborns.
Intersex people, advocacy groups and some medical practitioners believe unnecessary surgery and other medical intervention should be postponed until intersex people are old enough to decide what gender they identify with and what, if any, treatment they want.
Transgender and Intersex Africa (TIA) was formed by African transgender individuals to focus on transgender and intersex issues in previously disadvantaged communities in South Africa, such as townships and rural areas and aims to break the silence on intersex people. Intersex South Africa is another organisation dedicated to raising awareness of intersex issues in South Africa while advocating and supporting all intersex South Africans.Intersex children and adults are often stigmatised and subjected to multiple human-rights violations, including violations of rights to health and physical integrity, to be free from torture and ill-treatment and discrimination. We require resources that are affirming, for clinicians, parents and individuals for how to improve the health, wellness and holistic care of intersex people.
Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng (MBChB), sexual and reproductive health practice, Disa Clinic, safersex.co.za
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