#swyer

[dhddmods]

Some intersex flags! (Part 3)

Part 3 of making flags for intersex traits and variations that were flagless! (Here are part one and two.) There will be a part 4 and then all the main intersex traits/variations will officially have flags.

Please read (and reblog) our intersex guide. It is so important to understand intersex people, their bodies, and their health!

XX Gonadal Dysgenesis

The shades of pink represent the female-like anatomy of those with this variation. The circles with the lines through them represent streak ovaries. The XX represents the chromosomes of those with this variation.

Swyer Syndrome/XY Gonadal Dysgenesis

The pink represents the female-like anatomy of those with this variation. The blueish-purple represents male-associated chromosomes, and the purple represents potential clitoromegaly. The circles with the lines through them represent streak ovaries. The XY represents the chromosomes of those with this variation.

XXYYY Syndrome

The shades of blue represents the male-like anatomy of those with this variation. The purple and yellow represents how this variation is intersex.

XXXYY Syndrome

The blue represents male-like anatomy (testes and androgens as the main sex hormone, as well as the possibility of a penis/micropenis.) Grey represents hypoandrogenism. Yellow represents how this variation is intersex. Pink represents female-like anatomy (such as breasts and potentially vulval traits.) Purple represents androgynous sex traits and potential ambiguous genitalia. The symbol represents the chromosomes of those with this variation.

XXXY Syndrome

The blue represents male-like anatomy. Grey represents hypoandrogenism. Yellow represents how this variation is intersex. Pink represents female-like anatomy. The purple and yellow represents how this variation is intersex.

De La Chapelle Syndrome

The shades of blue represents the male-like anatomy, despite the two X chromosomes. The purple and yellow represent how this variation is intersex.

[saltyfoxes-art]

Espeon has Swyer Syndrome, also known as Complete Gonadal Dysgenesis. They are transfem, and is dating umbreon (obviously). She likes to play basketball because of their height but she gets fatigued easily.

THEY/SHE

[furious-blueberry0]

Omega is Intersex, and you can pry this headcannon from my cold dead hands

[ashekirk]

Tomorrow I get to find out whether my gonadectomy is going to be a simple or complex surgery. Yay?

Either way I have never had surgery before and that makes me nervous.

[ohchr-news]

(via More Women Than Expected Are Genetically Men - Novo Nordisk Fonden)

Who Are The Hidden Men?

Danish researchers map for the first time how many women are genetically men. These people therefore have male chromosomes but are women socially and in external appearance. The proportion was higher than expected. “Morris Syndrome” & “Swyer Syndrome” are now collectively called 46XY DSD: androgen insensitivity syndrome. These people have an extremely high level of testosterone and other male sex hormones, but the testosterone does not affect the fetal cells that usually develop into male sexual organs because of a mutation in the androgen receptor gene. They may or may not have a full set of internal female sexual organs, and they form testicles that remain concealed in the abdominal cavity. From Claus Højbjerg Gravholt, who led the study and is Clinical Professor in the Department of Clinical Medicine of Aarhus University

[anamericangirl]

Reading your recent posts, could you explain Swyer syndrome more? And why people think it means there's a third gender

I’m not an expert on swyer syndrome but I have learned a lot more about it than I ever knew before in the past few months.

Swyer syndrome is a disorder that affects biological males. Everyone starts out basically growing female reproductive organs, but for men, that stops when the SRY gene on the Y chromosome kicks in and starts the development of male reproductive organs and other areas of development. But in swyer sydrome, the SRY gene doesn’t activate so the female organs don’t stop growing.

And people think it’s a third gender because they don’t understand what a disorder is and think if someone has a biological mutation or birth defect that human biology doesn’t apply to them.

[paynomindtomyidiocy]

does anyone else go through phases where they notice their adhd more and kind of forget that they also are autistic (or vice versa)??

because lowkey my adhd has been such a bitch for the last 2 years that the asd has been more low profile but yesterday I got a dose of crushing autistic disappointment and it hit me like a kick to the gut

[gendiebrainrotreceipts]

doesn’t sawyer syndrome give you less testosterone tho?

I don’t think so

[intersex-support]

Wasn't sure where else to go so sorry for sending an ask during the blog hiatus but I feel a little bit like I'm losing my mind trying to work out why my body is the way that it is. I show a lot of symptoms of hyperandrogenism and I am (I believe?) Afab. However. I have been told recently that I show more signs of having gynecomastia than 'female breasts' and I know I was given estrogen during puberty because I wasn't developing the way I was expected to. I don't think I've ever had any lower surgeries but I do have an enlarged clitoris (over 4cm)and, for lack of a better description, more of a 'masculine' appearance to my labia majora, appearance wise they're very similar to a scrotum. I have also had extremely irregular menstrual cycles in the past that would be maybe once a year at best before stopping entirely. My doctors have repeatedly told me that everything is fine and I have no reason to worry, but refuse to answer if I ask if anything is 'normal' or not so I don't even know where to begin looking. I suspected something like CAH at first but, without the estrogen during puberty, I would have developed a body that was entirely male appearing aside from the genitals so I'm now incredibly unsure what to think and had no idea where else to ask about something like this - so I am sorry to bother you!

Hey, anon. Thank you so much for your patience and sorry for taking such a long time to answer your ask!

I'm going to give my usual disclaimer that we are not doctors, and cannot diagnose you--all the information we provide is to give you some suggestions of things to continue looking into.

So, with every trait you've listed out, I think it's very possible that you might be intersex. Reading over the things you've shared, there isn't one singular intersex diagnosis that jumps out to me as more likely than the others. When that's the case, what's been helpful to me is listing out a lot of possible diagnoses, and pointing out what symptoms match up, and which ones don't, in the hope that you can narrow it down a little. This is probably going to be a long post with a lot of options, but I hope this helps you figure out where to research next. I don't want you to get overwhelmed by the amount of information--obviously, most of these diagnoses are not going to be what you have, but since I'm not a doctor and can't do the tests to narrow it down, I want to walk you through what your options are.

One intersex variation that is a rare variation, but seems like it could possibly really line up with your symptoms is Aromatase Deficiency. When you have aromatase deficiency, your body does not have the enzyme that processes androgens into estrogen. You will have XX chromosomes, a vagina, uterus, and ovaries. However, usually at puberty, without HRT, people with aromatase deficiency may not develop breasts, might not start having a period or have very irregular periods. Also, it can cause variation in genitalia from birth, meaning people might have a larger clitoris and their labia can become fused, making it look like a scrotum. This seems like it really, really might be a possible option and lines up with a lot of things that you described. It looks like the diagnosis for this requires some blood testing and physical exams, as well as analyzing your medical history for other symptoms like ovarian cysts.

Another option is Swyer Syndrome. People with Swyer syndrome have XY chromosomes, but have complete gonadal dysgenesis, meaning that their gonads have not developed into testes. This means that they will have a vulva, vagina, and often can develop a uterus because of another hormone. People with Swyer Syndrome typically only have periods if they were on Estrogen therapy at puberty, like you were. Swyer syndrome is not as much associated with atypical genitalia, but it's still possible. To get a diagnosis, you would do a pelvic ultrasound, hormone testing, and karyotyping.

Another option is mixed gonadal dysgenesis, or another type of chromosomal mosaicism. This is a variation where you would have a 45X/46XY chromosome pattern, and both testicular tissue and some streak gonad tissue. People with mixed gonadal dysgenesis have a wide variety of ways that their genitalia might look, including having visible genitalia variations like what you've described, or a typical vagina or penis. Usually, people with mixed gonadal dysgenesis have some uterus tissue, and with being on E, that could cause your periods. With mixed gonadal dysgenesis, people usually go through some aspects of a testosterone-based puberty. To get this diagnosed, you would need to get some hormone tests done, a karyotype, and most likely a pelvic ultrasound. This is another rare variation, but is a possibility. Ovotestes would present very similarly to the symptoms listed above, and would be diagnosed similarly.

It's possible that you could have CAH and have just had some of the symptoms go away because you were put on E during puberty, but I think that might depend on some other things from your medical history. CAH can cause genital differences and fused labia, but that seems to be more common with Classic CAH, which is usually diagnosed at birth, rather than Non classic CAH. So if there's other hormone medication that you've been on throughout your childhood like hydrocortisone or fludrocortisone, that would be a really big sign that you have CAH. Your symptoms don't seem to line up 100% with CAH, but I think that's something that's still an option that you could consider getting hormone tests like an ACTH stim test to rule out.

Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but from what you've shared, it doesn't sound like you've ever had testing or imaging to confirm whether you have a womb, uterus, and ovaries. I know you said you had a period, but because you said it's happened so rarely and has now stopped completely, one hypothesis could be that what you've experienced in the past wasn't actually a menstrual cycle, but was vaginal bleeding caused by vaginal atrophy or another cause. I think this is less likely, but if you rule out every other option, this might be a route to explore.

So, hypothetically if you found out you don't have a uterus or womb or ovaries, you could explore 5-alpha reductase deficiency, 17 beta HSD, Partial Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome These are all intersex variations where you have XY chromosomes, don't have a womb or uterus, and either don't produce testosterone, or can't synthesize and produce the testosterone that your body does produce. People with 5 ARD, 17 beta HSD, PAIS can be born with a vulva and vagina, a penis, or genitalia that doesn't look quite like either. If your gonads (testes) were removed as a child, you would not be able to go through puberty without taking either E or T. If you still had your testes, then unless you went on E, your body could naturally go through a some aspects of a typical testosterone puberty. If you got an ultrasound and it turned out that you didn't have uterus and a womb, then these variations might line up with some of the traits you described, like having to take estrogen to go through puberty but still having some traits associated with hyperandrogenism. This also could explain the "masculine" appearance of your labia. Overall, these variations are probably a less likely option, though.

Summary: This was a ton of information and not all of it will apply to you! In general, it seems like the intersex variations that are the most likely possibilities are aromatase deficiency, with CAH, Swyer Syndrome, or mixed gonadal dysgenesis/ another type of mosaicism being other possible options. To get a diagnosis for any of these things and to start to narrow it down, you likely want to find a reproductive endocrinologist and a gynecologist so that you could get hormone testing, pelvic ultrasounds, and potentially chromosome testing done. It also might be worth trying to get copies of your medical records and history, or trying to get information from your family about any diagnoses and treatment that might have been made while you were a child.

I would suggest reading through this glossary of intersex variations to get more information, and also checking out this website called DSD teens to get more basic info about what puberty looks like for different variations (content warning for cissexist language and assumptions on that page.)

I can't tell you whether or not to identify as intersex, but what I can say is that there are a lot of things you've shared that are things that other intersex people would resonate with, and a lot of intersex spaces that would welcome you. And I completely understand that the process of questioning intersex can be so stressful and isolating--you deserve support while going through that. Feel free to reach back out to us, and if you're over 18, I'm happy to give you a link to an intersex discord that you could join. Please feel free to ask any other questions, and truly wishing you the best and sending love your way!

-Mod E

[writerobscura]

This hit so many personal ticky-boxes for me...

I was born in 1971 with a Y chromo and some underdeveloped extras. The doc "suggested" removing 'the boy things' leaving me with a vag, no ovaries, and a malformed cervix. When puberty hit - my voice got DEEP - the doc didn't get all those 'boy things,' so I underwent more surgery and got put on hormones that made me sick all the time and gave me a D-cup bra before age 14. :/

I identify as a woman, and I'm bi - yet my voice is a challenge FOR OTHER PEOPLE. My friend calls me her TERF detector because when we attend feminist socials and I start talking, the TERFs literally walk away from the conversation as if I picked a booger out of my nose and flicked it in their drink.

Intersex is invisible to most people and for some, when mentioned, you're 'a chick with a dick' or a 'man with a pussy' and that's not how it works for so many of us.

the reason intersex people need to be visible and at the forefront of every queer's activism is because we are completely devoid of autonomy when it comes to identifying ourselves. no matter how hard we try to speak up on how we are treated, how we are dehumanized, how we are refused our right to say who we are, it falls through the cracks because of how many people continue to diminish our issues, and espouse intersexist beliefs.

when i speak up about being transfemme, and a trans girl, it's not because i'm trying to step on people's toes or speak about something i don't understand. i speak up about it because this is the life i've lived. it doesn't matter if strangers see me this way or not, this is how i've been my entire life. whether or not someone knows i was technically born AMAB and then had my gender "corrected" shouldn't matter.

trans people do not only come in binary sexes- just like gender, physical sex is also not a binary. i am an intersex trans girl , even if my agab didn't stay AMAB forever. I would be an intersex trans girl regardless of whether or not they assigned me male at birth, because my experience with womanhood and femininity is that they've always been held away from me, way farther than it would ever be possible for me to reach.

i've had to take estrogen & progesterone HRT in the past in order to "correct" my masculine features in order to look like and be a girl "correctly". the subject of my body and my gender has never been something i've been able to control. my whole live i've just been told that i'm a girl wrong, and that i need to "Fix" it.

boyhood or manhood weren't options either, that was held away from me with a 10 foot pole as well. i've had to transition into gender, itself, because i was forbidden to be a boy or a girl. i was always too sensitive or soft to be a real boy. gender as a concept has been a source of control and degredation for me. i had to transition into both manhood and womanhood in order to have control over how i identify. even now when i talk about manhood and being a man, people tell me that i'm not a trans man because of how i look. i'm routinely denied manhood, I "have" to be a trans woman only to some.

due to my intersex condition, i'm a trans man and a trans woman, transfemme and transmasc, but people struggle to accept this. there's no reason for people to give me hell about these parts of myself, and yet people still do. intersex awareness matters because we fight to be seen as the people we are. we struggle to have our identities be addressed correctly. we are in the same fight as trans individuals, and we owe it to intersex trans men, women, and people to help people understand that trans folks come in all different types of bodies, and that biological sex is not a binary, either.

we have to fight for each other's autonomy. for all of us. together we are stronger, louder, and braver.

[puddleofbats]

I'm creating an intersex character, with Swyer syndrome specifically, so I wanted to ask specifically those who have swyer syndrome if they would be willing to share their experience or things that they would/would not like to see in a character with Swyer syndrome. Ive done research into the genetics/science of it, but of course that doesn't equate to knowing experiences, which is why i wanted to ask ^^

[otakunoculture]

When Houston Had The Blues, Nobody Can Bring Me Down!

I haven't seen a #documentary this good which traces the #musical legacy and history of talents from Houston, and when it's about the #blues, I'm hooked! #moviereview at:

Coming to Digital on Sept 24 Every city that’s been considered the birthplace of the Blues has a distinct sound, and When Houston Had The Blues, what’s unique to this locale is the sax. As for why that is so, everything a student of this genre would want to know is excellently answered here. This documentary curated by Alan Swyer, who also serves as director, dives deep into looking at the…

[cherrygeek]

Discover Houston's history of the blues

Houston has the Blues in the new documentary premiering September 24th on VOD Platforms

Houston has soul and is part of American Blues History that story hasn’t been told until this documentary premiers September 24th on VOD platforms including Tubi, Apple TV & iTunes When people think of the Blues the cities that come to mind are Memphis, Chicago, New Orleans, and other cities but Houston has been forgotten in history. ‘When Houston Had the Blues‘ tells the story of the city’s…

[ashekirk]

I'm one of the few millennials who has been prescribed estrogen and progesterone without wanting it. I am only taking it because it's supposed to save me from osteoporosis later in life.

And lemme tell you... as a non-binary intersex person, it's very unpleasant. I don't want sensitive, growing breasts. I don't want my uterus.... doing stuff. It's never done stuff before and I don't like it. I can feel it in there.... I don't want to be able to feel it.

Help... :(

[adlibitur]

yes actually there is a conversation to be had about genetic advantages in combat sports of all kinds- mr phelps isnt going to physically harm the pool or his competitors.