Hey, I'm new. And I don't know if I'm intersexed.

[ScarsUnseen]

Hey, my name is Jaime. Hmm... I like abstract music and art and am a music major in northeast Pennsylvania. Sooo anyway... I think I might be intersexed, but I'm not exactly sure, and I'm trying to find answers.

I have normal-looking boy parts (unfortunately), but I live full-time as a female (my chosen gender). I was raised male, which wasn't fun. Well, I know I'm trans, but the issue that is on my mind is... my boy parts never EVER worked, even before taking female hormones. I suspect that I might be intersexed as well trans. Besides the parts not working, I'm really really tiny. Being 5'3" and about 100lbs isn't exactly "normal" for a 23-yr old male. I don't have broad shoulders at all and I've even had hips pre-hormones.

Any thoughts? How can I get a genetic test?

Thanks :)
Jaime!

[Alien]

Hey, Jaime. I'm kind of like you, only the opposite. I have normal external female genitalia, but due to high levels of testosterone, I resemble a pubescent boy in terms of secondary sex characteristics. I'm rather tall, lanky, with a deep voice, and excessive (for a female) body hair. I identify with the trans label somewhat, as I feel more male/masculine, though I was raised a female.

Afraid I don't have much knowledge about testing and such, as I only just started my own intersex journey. An endocrinologist may be able to help, though.

[freshwater pearl]

Hi Jaime,
I'm new here too :)
For height and weight, I would look at the people in your family ... if a lot of your male relatives are short, then it probably is not abnormal. For example, the average height of a man in Vietnam is 5"3.
As for your boy parts never working, I don't want to be nosy, but I'm not sure what you mean. You don't have to detail if you don't feel comfortable doing so :)
If you're considering sex reassignment surgery, you may wish to resolve this first (my personal opinion, I'm not a doctor or a counselor). I guess you could start with your general physician and maybe he or she would have some ideas. And FYI, not all intersex disorders can be traced back to chromosomes - a lot of people who have them are XY males and XX females. Possibly you could be tested for hormone levels and then if they are abnormal your doctor could refer you to an endocrinologist?
Just my $0.02 and non-expert opinion :)

[freshwater pearl]

Gaahhh, sorry I just remembered that you're taking female hormones, which might make a hormone level test difficult. I think that you should probably consult your general physician first.

[Dr_Owl]

Any thoughts? How can I get a genetic test?

Thanks :)
Jaime!

Hello,
Easy. Go see your GP. Doctor and ask for a referal to a Endocrinologist. They will be able to tell you anything you ask.

I'm Lucky I go get to see 2 Professors in the Sydney University, Andrology Department.

I'm a bit of a crash test dummy for medicine LOL (oh well sometimes they pay me)

But you should be cool, Jaime.
Ask your Doctor and if they are cool enough then anything you want is possible.

Andrew :-D

[Sara Zeal]

Sounds a lot like me Jaime, actually very similar. Just read my 'I'm back after a long time' post, or my intro thread on a later page (in September/October 2006) in this section.

I also don't have an official diagnostic, but highly suspect it anyway. You can send me a personal message or email or contact me through messengers if you want.

[ScarsUnseen]

Hi Jaime,
I'm new here too :)
For height and weight, I would look at the people in your family ... if a lot of your male relatives are short, then it probably is not abnormal. For example, the average height of a man in Vietnam is 5"3.
As for your boy parts never working, I don't want to be nosy, but I'm not sure what you mean. You don't have to detail if you don't feel comfortable doing so :)
If you're considering sex reassignment surgery, you may wish to resolve this first (my personal opinion, I'm not a doctor or a counselor). I guess you could start with your general physician and maybe he or she would have some ideas. And FYI, not all intersex disorders can be traced back to chromosomes - a lot of people who have them are XY males and XX females. Possibly you could be tested for hormone levels and then if they are abnormal your doctor could refer you to an endocrinologist?
Just my $0.02 and non-expert opinion :)


Well, my dad is 5'9. My mom's brother is about 5'5. Both of my grandpas passed away long ago, so I don't know their heights.

As far as my boy parts not working, well... here are some details. I can "get it up" sometimes. When I have sex (which I don't do well :-( ), I've never EVER had sperm, even before I started taking female hormones. The most liquid/fluid I ever get is like a tiny, tiny drop of clear stuff. That's about it. I also don't get horny much. When I do, it's a rare occassion. And masturbating with my current genitals kind of freaks me out, so I don't do it. I definitely want to pursue surgery ASAP. Is that too much info? :)

-Jaime

[Sara Zeal]

This sounds exactly like me, though my dad is 5'6", and I myself am 5'6". I've never had sex or much of a libido or had much masturbation at all, never felt enclined to. I still don't. And I don't intend to lose my virginity before surgery.

[freshwater pearl]

First of all, that's really brave of you to be so honest - a lot of this stuff isn't easy to talk about :)
I would recommend seeing your doctor and maybe an endocrinologist or urologist (never seen one myself, but I think that they may be able to help with the male reproductive system). I'm not sure how much the female hormones you're taking will affect a diagnosis.
I'd love to help you more and I wish you the best, but I am in possession of a (mostly) female reproductive system so I can't help you out much there.

[ScarsUnseen]

First of all, that's really brave of you to be so honest - a lot of this stuff isn't easy to talk about :)
I would recommend seeing your doctor and maybe an endocrinologist or urologist (never seen one myself, but I think that they may be able to help with the male reproductive system). I'm not sure how much the female hormones you're taking will affect a diagnosis.
I'd love to help you more and I wish you the best, but I am in possession of a (mostly) female reproductive system so I can't help you out much there.

Thanks for the brave comment, although I don't really think I'm brave. I'm just trying to find answers. It isn't like I'm embarassed who I am or anything.

Hooray for mostly-female reproductive systems. I want one lol.