Hello everyone,
I just want to introduce myself to the members and let everyone know a little about my situation. I believe that I am intersexed but I don't know for sure. I am a 20 yr old female collegiate athlete. I have only known about intersex conditions for about two years. I stumbled across some websites about ambiguous genitalia on the internet and a swarm of questions came into my head. I really didn't realize that I had an abnormally large clitoris until I saw others and realized that mine was larger. I have very very small breasts as well. I have always been athletic, tomboyish, etc... and I just want to know what is really going on with me. Is it hormones, chromosomes... what? I've been to gynecologists and they've said nothing about my larger clitoris but I haven't had the nerve to ask. Also when I asked my mother about it she said that she noticed that I had a large clitoris as a baby but not penis-sized and doctors never mentioned anything to her. Can anyone help me pinpoint what my situation is?

Hi Chanel,

Welcome to Bodies Like Ours. It's is difficult to determine from your brief post what is going on in your situation. It is always best to get professional medical advice about the possibility of having an intersex condition. It's good that you posted on this site. I can relate to having difficulties discussing issues with doctors. When I was young, I often blocked things out of my mind. I remember on one occasion in my twenties, a psychiatrist who I was seeing asked if I had any additional scars, after showing her the scars on my left leg from treatment of a hip problem. I could not bring myself to show her my infant genital surgery scars. I thought about it, but I was too chicken. I regret that I was not able to open up to a concerned and friendly doctor. She noticed my reaction and mumbled something under her breath. It can be tough bringing up intersex issues with medical professionals. I was so buried in denial that I missed a good chance to psychologically deal with my intersex issues years ago. But this was way before the founding of the Intersex Society of North America by Cheryl Chase, and there was no public awareness of intersex issues back then.
I don't know whether you are intersex or not, but I am glad to hear that you have not been subjected to involuntary surgery or involuntary hormonal treatments. Adult intersex women, who have escaped these involuntary treatments, generally report that they are happy to have not had involuntary medical treatments when they were young.

Peter

its nice to read of someone my age who had similar problems and issues that i do, both mental and physical. its interesting when you say you felt tomboyish growing up, where i felt feminine below the waist and masculine above--i like girls, and i find men unattrative, yet i wish i had feminine parts. strange. but growing up i'm sure we had strange thoughts that we were confused about our parts, and others had normal ones. when little i once had someone look at it and ask me why i didnt have a penis. but it doesn matter what it looks like, im just glad it wasn't altered. be happy that we weren't maimed and that we got through puberty relatively ok. i hope the best for you.

thank you both. I guess now it's up to me to ask my doctor. I will post about the information as soon as i get the nerve to ask and get some answers.

i have decided to make an appointment with my doctor and have a complete physical in those regions; it took alot of courage, for he's never looked down there before, but i knew i must after speaking to my mother. i hope you find the courage to talk to your doctor and that she may find an answer to your questions. peace always.