How to Treat Ambiguous Genitalia

Ambiguous genitalia is a fairly rare condition and will provide some unique challenges in your life, but it is certainly not the end of the world for you or your child. In fact, with just a little understanding and a loving, supportive environment, a child with ambiguous genitalia can grow up to live a deeply rewarding, wonderful life. Read on to learn more about how to treat ambiguous genitalia.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Research ambiguous genitalia thoroughly before you make any decisions about your child's future. There are various causes and types of ambiguous genitalia, and you'll need to be armed with all the information possible before you can decide on an appropriate treatment.
2. Talk to your child's doctor and other leading experts. Researching on your own is a great way to start, but once you start running into phrases like pseudohermaphroditism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and mixed gonadal dysgenesis, you'll need to seek out someone with more advanced knowledge to have your questions answered.
3. Resist the urge to "cure" your child with surgery shortly after birth. If you want to treat a child with ambiguous genitalia effectively, then you need to learn to approach treatment from a psychological perspective, not a physiological one.
4. Treat ambiguous genitalia with kindness, compassion, understanding and communication. Don't turn the condition into something taboo. Your child will eventually notice that he is different, but with good parenting, you can teach him that different does not translate into bad.
5. Talk to your child about the condition. Do not hide it from her. If you can engage in frank, open dialog with your child, then you are on your way to teaching her to live a rewarding, fulfilling life.
6. Allow your child the freedom to make his own choices. Only your child can decide for certain what is natural and what feels right for him. If, as a teenager or adult, he decides that he longer wants ambiguous genitalia, then let the decision as to which gender he belongs to be made by him alone.
7. Join a support group for parents of intersex children, and see a therapist if you need to. Being around others with similar experiences will be a huge benefit, as will talking to a trained professional outside your own circle.

Tips & Warnings

• Expect serious backlash later on if you decide to "fix" ambiguous genitalia with childhood surgeries. Studies show a huge number of children who were operated on reported feeling violated, mutilated and imprisoned in the wrong gender for life.