2 of 2

Yes

Write now Article Tools

When a child is born, the first question new parents and families ask is, "Is it a boy or girl?" Of course, in today's age of prenatal ultrasound, families usually know the answer to that question prior to the blessed event. Unfortunately, sometimes the process of the maturation of the fetus goes awry at one or more critical points. Any abnormality in the newborn infant no matter how slight usually causes the parents to grieve the loss of their imagined "perfect" baby. Now imagine if you will the birth of a baby with ambiguous genitalia. Not only is there an abnormality, but no one even knows whether the baby is a he or a she. The cute little pink or blue card placed at the head of the cribs of all the other babies is replaced by a photocopied white one. The birth certificate secretary has to be stalled while chromosome studies are done. No one knows what color presents to get the newborn. As a parent, how would you feel? Wouldn't you as a parent want your child to be "normal" as soon as feasible?

From the child's perspective, how would you feel being different in such a fundamental way? Very early on, children notice differences in their bodies and the bodies of others. They are curious when the physical characteristics don't seem to match. How would you like to be the parent who has to explain to that child why his/her genitalia not only don't match mom or dad's, but don't match ANYONE else's in the world? Would you like to be that child when he/she grows old enough to shower or spend nights away from home and feel the embarrassment of having "weird" body parts? Growing up is difficult enough without having to deal with an actual abnormality that was not repaired.

If the child is born with extra fingers or toes, it is not considered controversial for a surgeon to tie them off, thus correcting the deformity. If a child is born with club feet, it is not considered "cruel" or "controversial" for the series of surgeries to begin at an early age so that the child will be able to walk properly. Why then, in this day of DNA tests, is there even a question of whether it is OK for a surgeon to correct ambiguous genitalia? A few days after the birth, the karotype will be reported, thus identifying the child as male or female. Why wait until the child has suffered a lifetime of laughter and pointing before correcting the external genitalia to match the genetic sex? When you think about the issue from the parents and also the child's perspective, nothing else makes any sense.

Learn more about this author, Casey James.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Should doctors be allowed to continue performing cosmetic operations on intersex infants??
We want to hear your view. Write now!