General Medical Information

Rare Condition of True Hermaphroditism

Sarah E. Herbert

True hermaphroditism is a rare condition, defined by the presence of both ovarian and testicular tissue in the same person. A combination of ovary, testis, or ovotestis may be present; thus, the physical effects may vary. It may be diagnosed at birth or not until later. Due to the rarity of this condition, most of the information on psychosocial and sexual functioning is in the form of case studies, many of which were reported by Money.

The majority of psychological issues that have been explored for this group of patients are related to assignment of sex and subsequent gender identity, gender role, and sexual orientation. The numbers are too small to draw any significant conclusions. Reference to the discussion of pseudohermaphroditic syndromes with similar manifestations should help in understanding the psychological impact of this particular disorder.