On Health Care for 2012

“Being intersex is often treated as a medical issue, simply because we’re different.  Just as being male or female is not a medical issue, although there are specific health issues specific to being male or female, neither is being intersex. Intersex people simply have a naturally occurring variation — just like having red hair —…

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Ten Misconceptions about Intersex

Authors: Curtis E. Hinkle, Founder, Organisation Intersex International & Hida Viloria, Chairperson, Organisation Intersex International All of the following statements are false: 1. Intersex means that a person has both sets of genitalia. This is probably one of the most common misconceptions about intersex. Intersex often has nothing to do with the genitalia of the…

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Intersex and Medically Unnecessary, Irreversible Treatments

Discriminatory Views Create Discriminatory Medical Treatment Author: Hida Viloria, Chairperson, Organisation Intersex International (OII) Note: A small percentage of intersex variations sometimes require medical attention for immediate health reasons.  This treatment is necessary, and is not what I am referring to below. People who promote nonconsensual genital surgeries and/or hormone therapy for intersex infants and children…

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On a Third Sex

THE creation of a new category to be designated intersex poses several problems. First of all, how do we define intersex? OII believes that there will be never a clear definition and at the same time, that it is not necessary to have a legal definition for intersex. We have no clear definitions for what…

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2012 Resolution: Spreading Intersex awareness!

Spreading awareness and ending discrimination MODERN medicine saves many lives and doctors are people dedicated to serving the health needs of others. OII United States does not stand in opposition to the medical community but does oppose some historic practices and recent developments in terminology and an approach that seeks to exclude intersex people themselves…

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Types of Intersex/Intersex Variations

What are some biological factors that can underly intersex? Note: A number of the items that will be linked to below are in the process of being edited for inaccuracies. They include… 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency 5-alpha reductase deficiency Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome – AIS Ambiguous genitalia Aphallia Clitoromegaly Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia – CAH Cryptorchidism Endocrine-disrupting chemicals…

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