#like klinefelter for example

[muu-kun]

What Makes Your Muses Body Unique?

Simple premise. Give 5 (or more) headcanons about your muses' body. Hands, eyes, feet, birthmarks, tricks--anything! Tagged by: @tximidity

Features spanning across the ages: Past (bottom icon) and Present (top icon)

Heart shaped face seen in the detailing and relationship between the roundness of his face around his eyes and the angles of cheeks until they meet to form a pointed chin.

I've discussed it before, but I'm mentioning once more (as well as including an image) the fact he has what is known as clinodactyly. It is isolated to three fingers on each hand-- pinky, index, and ring-- with each one varying in severity from one another. All of which in that exact order. These fingers of his are also all double jointed. The bottom knuckles, however, in ALL of his fingers are bulbous in shape. They curvatures of them fit perfectly amongst each other like a puzzle. The same cannot be said about the top knuckles, though, as gaps surround his middle fingers on each sides.

He has a silly little scar at a place very few can see. One of which acquired from an injury sustained as a teenager as a result of doing something he had ought to not be up to in the first place. In an attempt to climb over a metal fence into an area he'd otherwise not been permitted into, and unsupervised at that, he managed to get comically stuck in his hurdle over it by way of his shorts getting caught onto a sticking out piece of metal. Rather than proceed with caution, he adamantly lunged downwards with all of his effort, slicing through his attire and that of the top of his gluteal cleft to the inches just above it. It isn't entirely noticeable unless one is truly looking in that area, and yet in knowing of it the male can't quite help himself from finding joy in its existence. Especially when considering the fact it acts as his nearly invisible tail each time he excitedly sways his hips as though he's wagging it via an energetic stim.

Another feature he finds to be a delight about himself is the fact he has an outie belly button. He's never wished to cosmetically change it in anyway as it has never caused him any pain or problems. He'll never be able to get a piercing there, no, but that's okay on account it looks cute as a button on its own already. It also rests perfectly within his softened stomach. It is where his fat cells deposit themselves most prominently, and has a tendency to consistently bloat forward due to a combination of stored negativity and a hormone imbalance. Muu always has, and always will, calls it his baby fat.

Speaking of body fat, Muu is otherwise rather lacking in that department as he is generally petite across the majority of his physique. Some of which is contributed to an active lifestyle dictated by consistently walking his dog, going on foot or by bicycle to places close enough to not require his vehicle, or public transport even, routine pacing in instances in which he's attempting to physically regulate out an intense emotion, a whole food diet centered on his entirely vegan lifestyle, and plenty, PLENTY of sleep. Muu's actively in bed by no later than 10pm an any given evening as he for one doesn't like to exist in the dark any longer than he has to, and also because he just is very invested in listening to his body for queues it needs an abundance of rest. Consider yourself lucky if you ever invite him to something taking place after eight pm, because by then he'd ideally like to already he in his jammies with the intention of unwinding and settling down for slumber. His slim frame is also a contribution of an underlying eating disorder centered on withholding food from himself whenever he's under the impression that he ought to be punished for his perceived failures of the day; however, he's growing more inclined to forget such a habit in favor of snacking on vitamin rich treats as hunger and hurt go more together than the version of himself who started up the habit in the first place knew about. He's also taking on the role of gentle parenting himself, which does sometimes mean sneaking himself vegan cookies to boost positivity while negative voice inside his head is distracted. All in all, he weighs an astounding 115lbs / 52kg. Already on the thin side, where one can notice it the most is in his teeny, tiny ankles. Them and his wrists are minute in their circumferences, which isn't entirely of any surprise as both his hands and feet are small for even a man of his stature. Fun fact: both his shoe size and his ring size are that of a size seven in traditional American sizing.

[intersex-support]

Intersex Support FAQ

1. What is intersex?

Intersex is an umbrella term that describes people who have variations in sex characteristics that fall outside of the sex binary. This includes variations in genitals, internal reproductive organs like testes and ovaries, chromosomes, secondary sex characteristics, and/or the way that your body produces or responds to hormones. Some examples of intersex variations include AIS, CAH, PCOS, Klinefelters, hypospadias, and more. 

The three main factors that define intersex variations are: 

Variation in sex characteristics 

The variation falls outside of the sex binary and is different from what is considered typical “male” or “female” development. These variations in traits might often be stigmatized and discriminated against for being outside of the sex binary.

This variation is either present from birth or develops spontaneously later in life. It is not caused by transitioning or by something temporary like a medication side effect, tumor, or other medical diagnosis. 

(This definition is inspired by InterACT).

2. Does ____ count as intersex? 

There are around 40 different intersex variations that are currently known. InterACT”s intersex variation glossary lists out those intersex variations and gives a brief description of each one.

However, we know that isn’t a complete list. People have intersex variations that haven’t been medically researched yet, or might have a rare variation that the intersex community isn’t aware of yet. 

There are also some variations that might seem on the border between perisex and intersex. Some types of hormonal or reproductive diagnoses might not have a clear answer on whether they’re intersex or not. 

Ultimately,  intersex is a social/political identity rather than a strictly medical one. Increased research and changing social attitudes can cause the definition of intersex to expand over time. Regardless of whether someone has a confirmed intersex variation or an “intersex adjacent” diagnosis, if intersex resources are helpful to you, we hope that you continue to use them and act in solidarity with the intersex community. 

On this blog, we do include PCOS with hyperandrogenism as part of the intersex community. Check out our PCOS tag for more posts about our reasoning, and PCOS specific resources.

3. Am I intersex?

We cannot diagnose you with an intersex variation over the internet. We can share resources such as the intersex variations glossary, share tips for navigating the medical system, and share information on other non-clinical signs of being intersex. 

Some questions to ask yourself that can help you start the process of intersex discovery:

What do my sex traits (genitalia, secondary sex characteristics, hormone levels, etc) look like? Does this seem like it lines up with the “typical” descriptions of those sex traits? 

Do I have any information about my birth? Were there any complications? Did doctors do extra testing at birth? Did doctors take me away from my parents for long periods of time? Did it take me longer to have my sex assigned at birth?

What was puberty like for me? Did I have early or late puberty? Did I have to go on hormones to start puberty? Did I have any variations in puberty, such as unexpected breast growth, irregular periods, or other changes? Did I go through puberty at all?

If you’ve tried to have children, are you infertile or struggling with fertility?

Did I have any unexplained surgeries or medical procedures as a child? Was I ever told I had to have organs removed and was told it was because of a cancer risk? Did I have to be on specific medications or hormones throughout my childhood? Did I have to go see a doctor more frequently? Did I go to an endocrinologist or pediatric urologist as a child? 

Do I have surgery scars or scar tissue? Do I have more frequent UTIs than typical?

Do I have access to my medical records? Is there records of hormone panels, ultrasounds, physical exams, surgeries, or other medical procedures? 

This kind of information can help you start to piece together if you think you might have an intersex variation, or if you think your intersex variation was hidden from you. 

If you’re sending in an ask trying to figure out if your symptoms line up with a specific intersex variation, please share as much information as you’re comfortable with so that we can answer with the most helpful resources. 

4. Can I self diagnose as intersex? 

It’s complicated! Intersex is different from other LGBTQIA identities, in that it’s not only about self determination, but also about our embodied experience in a very specific way. In order to be intersex, you have to have an intersex variation. And there are many intersex variations that can only be confirmed through medical testing, so it’s not something that is easy to self-diagnose.

However, we recognize that the medical system is expensive, discriminatory, and often actively hides information about people’s intersex variations from them. (it wasn’t even until 2006 that the AAP stopped recommending that doctors lie to their patients about intersex status, so many intersex adults were born before that policy change!) Considering all that we know about intersex oppression, curative violence, and medical abuse, it feels incredibly cruel to tell people that they have to force themself through that system in order to seek answers. 

So, we understand that there are ways of finding out that you are intersex without having a specific, confirmed, medical diagnosis. Many of us might find out that we’re intersex because we realize that our genitalia visibly looks different, and we can tell that we are intersex, even if we don’t know our specific diagnosis. Others might find out that we’re intersex because of strange discrepancies in our medical record. We might find out through discovering surgery scars on our body. We might go through puberty and realize that we’re developing in an atypical way to our peers. We might do a lot of research into intersex variations and have a pretty good guess into what variation lines up with our experiences. We might have some test results that help us understand we have intersex traits, even if we don’t know our specific diagnosis.  

Before self diagnosing, we think it’s important to do thorough research into intersex variations, so that you truly understand what intersex means, what intersex variations exist, and understand how that information applies to yourself. It’s also important to be considerate of how we interact in community spaces, and respect other intersex people's boundaries as you engage in a questioning or diagnosis process. 

5.  Are intersex people trans?

Some intersex people are trans, and some aren’t. Most intersex people are still assigned a gender at birth, and many intersex people who are raised as one gender and then later identify as another gender identify with the label trans. Intersex people can be cis or trans just like any other group of people. 

Many intersex people have complicated relationships with gender, and don’t feel like labels like cis or trans really fit their experiences. For this reason, terms like intergender and ipsogender were coined.

6. Are intersex people LGBTQIA?

It’s complicated! The “I” in LGBTQIA stands for intersex. Intersex history is intertwined with other parts of queer history. For example, the very first protest for intersex people in the United States was organized by Hermaphrodites with Attitude and Transexual Menace. There are intersex inclusive versions of community pride flags. Many intersex people view their intersex identity as a queer identity. Intersex oppression overlaps in many ways with homophobia and transphobia. 

However, not all intersex people think that intersex should be included in the LGBTQIA community. Sometimes this is for bigoted reasons, with intersex radfems who use this stance as a way to be transphobic. But there are also intersex people who think that the “I” should only be included in the acronym when intersex people are actually meaningfully being included in queer spaces and resources. Many of us feel frustrated when people put “LGBTQIA” on a resource but then don’t actually have any intersex specific information in those resources. 

In general, this is an ongoing intracommunity discussion where we don’t have a consensus. 

7. Are intersex people disabled? 

It’s complicated! Intersex is an umbrella term for many different experiences, and there is not one universal intersex experience. Some intersex people identify as disabled. Some intersex people do not.

Many intersex variations do cause disabling impacts in our bodies and lives. Some intersex variations are comorbid with other health conditions. Other intersex people become disabled because of violent normalizing interventions we’ve survived, such as forced surgery or other types of medical abuse. 

Intersex people are also impacted by many of the same structures of oppression that harm disabled people. Both intersex people and disabled people are harmed by ableism. Both intersex people and disabled people are harmed by pathologization. Both intersex people and disabled people are harmed by curative violence. 

In the book Cripping Intersex, Celeste Orr explores all these concepts and creates something called “intersex is/and/as/with disability,” which is a model to think about all these different and sometimes conflicting relationships with disability. Some intersex people might identify directly as disabled. Others might sometimes think about the way that intersex is treated as a disability. Other intersex people might think about intersex and disability as a way to have solidarity. All of these relationships with disability are meaningful parts of the intersex community. 

8. What is intersex oppression/intersexism/interphobia/compulsory dyadism? 

Intersex people face a lot of oppression in many ways in society. At the core, intersex oppression relies on the idea that the only acceptable sex traits are sex traits that fit into the sex binary. Intersex oppression relies on mythical ideas of the “ideal male or female” body, where someone's chromosomes perfectly line up with their genitalia and internal reproductive organs, with perfectly normal hormone levels and perfect secondary sex characteristics that don’t have any variation. When people don’t fit into that “perfect” sex binary, they are seen as less valuable, abnormal, and threatening. There is then a societal pressure to eradicate any traits and people that fall outside of the sex binary, which causes a lot of targeted discrimination of intersex people. This form of oppression is called “compulsory dyadism,” and was coined by Celeste Orr. 

Compulsory dyadism is also rooted in, overlaps with, and is the foundation for many other types of oppression. For example, ableism is another form of oppression that creates ways of harming people whose bodies and minds are labeled as less valuable for societally constructed reasons. Check out Talila Lewis’s definition of ableism for more information. Another example is how racialized people are targeted by sex testing policies in sports--both intersex and perisex women of color are consistently targeted by sex testing policies designed to exclude intersex people from sports. Another example is that homophobia and transphobia contribute to why intersex bodies are seen as threats that need to be eradicated--society views existing with intersex sex traits as a slippery slope to growing up as a gay or trans adult. Compulsory dyadism is also at the root of a lot of transphobic rhetoric about how transitioning “ruins” people’s bodies. All these forms of oppression are connected. 

There are a lot of ways that compulsory dyadism causes intersex people to be targeted and discriminated against. A huge issue is nonconsensual surgeries at birth, that attempt to “normalize” ambiguous genitalia, remove intersex people’s gonads, and otherwise alter genitalia or internal structures. These surgeries are often referred to as intersex genital mutilation, or IGM. These surgeries do not have any medical necessity, but doctors lobby to continue to be allowed to perform them anyway. These surgeries can sterilize intersex people, cause lifelong trauma, and also cause many disabling medical complications. Alongside IGM, intersex people also face a lot of different types of medical abuse. 

Besides curative violence and medical abuse, intersex people also face discrimination in our schools, jobs, and public places. We face legal discrimination in changing our names and sex markers. We face discrimination from institutions like CPS, which often target parents, especially people of color, that refuse to put their children through intersex genital mutilation. Many intersex people survive targeted sexual violence. We have a widespread lack of resources, visibility, and representation. Many people still have prejudiced ideas about intersex people and call us slurs. These are just a few examples of the many way that interphobia/intersexism show up in our lives. 

9. What is intersex justice? 

Intersex justice is a framework created by intersex activists through the Intersex Justice Project as a way to fight for intersex liberation. 

“Intersex justice is a decolonizing framework that affirms the labor of intersex people of color fighting for change across social justice movements. By definition, intersex justice affirms bodily integrity and bodily autonomy as the practice of liberation. Intersex justice is intrinsically tied to justice movements that center race, ability, gender identity & expression, migrant status, and access to sexual & reproductive healthcare. Intersex justice articulates a commitment to these movements as central to its intersectional analysis and praxis. Intersex justice acknowledges the trauma caused by medically unnecessary and nonconsensual cosmetic genital surgeries and addresses the culture of shame, silence and stigma surrounding intersex variations that perpetuate further harm.

The marginalization of intersex people is rooted in colonization and white supremacy. Colonization created a taxonomy of human bodies that privileged typical white male and female bodies, prescribing a gender binary that would ultimately harm atypical black and indigenous bodies. As part of a liberation movement, intersex activists challenge not only the medical establishment, which is often the initial site of harm, but also governments, institutions, legal structures, and sociocultural norms that exclude intersex people. Intersex people should be allowed complete and uninhibited access to obtaining identity documents, exercising their birth and adoption rights, receiving unbiased healthcare, and securing education and employment opportunities that are free from harm and harassment.” (Source: Dr. Mel Michelle Lewis through the Intersex Justice Project.)

There are seven principles to intersex justice: 

Informed consent

Reparations

Legal protections

Accountability

Language

Children's rights

Patient-centered healthcare

10. What is intergender? 

Intergender is a gender identity for use by intersex people only. It doesn’t have one specific definition-it is used by intersex people to mean a whole variety of things. It’s used to describe the unique ways our intersex experience intersects with and influences our gender.  Some people use it as a modifying term, such as calling themselves an intergender man or woman, as a way to explain the way being intersex affects their identity. Other people identify solely as intergender, and have that be their whole gender. 

11. What is dyadic/perisex/endosex? 

All are words that mean “not intersex.” Different groups will have different preferences on which one they like to use. 

12. Is hermaphrodite an offensive term? 

Yes. It is an incredibly offensive slur that perisex people should never say. Many intersex people have a very painful history with the slur. Some of us reclaim the term, which can be an important act of healing and celebration for us.

12. Can perisex people follow? 

Feel free, but understand that questions by intersex people are prioritized! Anyone is welcome to follow.

13. I’m writing a character who’s intersex…

Check out this post:  https://trans-axolotl.tumblr.com/post/188153640308/intersex-representation. If you’re writing about intersex people for a paid project, you should pay an intersex person to act as a sensitivity reader before publishing. 

Check out our Resources and Intersex Organizations pages as well!

[ipso-faculty]

Mesosex: A Revised Definition

Mesosex: a person who has an intersex variation, but one which does not conform to perisex (non-intersex) ideas of what intersex is. For example, people who have intersex traits that are considered "mild", or who have variations such as PCOS Hyperandrogenism and Poland Syndrome.

Meso- for middle/in between, to refer to the state of being in between what the intersex community accepts as intersex and what the broader public (mistakenly) thinks intersex is.

This is a revision to the initial definition for the term, which I originally coined a few months back. The revised definition comes from many conversations with both identifying-as-intersex people and identifying-as-mesosex people.

In particular I'd like to highlight this long (but very productive) thread from which the revised definition was first proposed by @queercripintersex

From that thread and private conversations some key takeaways have been:

There was too much ambiguity in the initial definition.

The people I've spoken to for whom mesosex has resonated all either have intersex variations, or very good reasons to question that they could be intersex.

And a lot of those people have faced harassment and invalidation by perisex people for experimenting and/or claiming the intersex label. They have expressed a desire for alternate language by which they can communicate their relationship to being intersex.

Not everybody with an intersex variation wants to use the term intersex, or to only use it contextually. Some feel they aren't "intersex enough", even people with variations like Klinefelter's or CAIS that are widely accepted as intersex.

For people who are new to thinking of themselves as intersex, it is valuable to have a microlabel available that can capture their impostor syndrome.

There is a real and legitimate concern that the initial definition of mesosex would lead people with intersex variations like PCOS to think of themselves as neither intersex nor perisex, even though the intersex community is unanimous that PCOS hyperandrogenism is intersex.

Although there is a clear hierarchy of which intersex variations are seen as more legitimately intersex by perisex people, if we validate this hierarchy then we undermine our collective need for pan-intersex solidarity.

I hope that redefining the term reduces rather than adds confusion! And that it's useful for people! Feedback is welcome. 💜

[catboybiologist]

Hi! So as someone who has done a bachelors in microbiology and biotechnology I would like to hear your thoughts on the definitions of both male and female i.e male being the sex that is capable of producing the numerous smaller mobile gametes; presence of the y chromosome (XY, XXY) etc. Do you think that it is a concrete definition? Do you think that sex is on a spectrum for homo sapiens. Much love and congrats on your journey! /gen

Almost by definition, since intersex people exist, sex does have to be on a spectrum or at least have exceptions to any binary classification.

So let's strip down to the bare bones. Yes, for fertilization to occur, you need an egg and a sperm. In novel species with dramatically different reproductive systems as us, the size of the gamete is what is used to classify male vs female vs hermaphroditic (or as JK Rowling would say, the woman is the producer of the large gamete). If you want to define this as biological sex, then go ahead. It does have to be this way in a laboratory context for genetics, establishing crosses and tracing hereditary traits, because of course it does.

(note that I'm using hermaphrodite as a purely gamete based definition, I know the terminology sounds weird or bad, that's the point).

Under the gamete-centric system, we can end up with concrete a trinary classification, and in mammals like humans, one of those classes is exceptionally rare (although it's the predominate one for many).

Couple problems here.

The first is that this is commonly associated with other markers that we consider "biological sex", but not always. You brought up some examples- Klinefelter's, or individuals with XXY, presents as someone who is capable of producing sperm, but has low levels of any sex associated hormone, and gains secondary sex characteristics that aren't fully consistent with any classification. It's a fairly common intersex condition. People who have it are normally classified as "male" due to genitalia, but often developed breasts and other soft tissue features we wouldn't consider male. So in this sense, gamete production is correlated with, but often not strictly associated with, other biological markers of sex.

The extension of this problem is, which "biological" markers of sex are perceived as gendered to society at large, and whether those are directly tied to gamete production. The answer is that some are correlated, and some even aren't. This point is a bit beyond the scope of what you're asking since it deals with gender, but it's important to note that no one perceived gender based on gametes, because gametes are an internal cell.

Another problem is how even completely cis and sex binary people can be left out by infertility. As mentioned before, gamete production isn't always tied to other markers of sex. Someone incapable of producing a gamete will most likely still show many other characteristics of one sex or the other.

It's why the terms "male", "female", and "hermaphrodite" feel so clinical and removed from normal speech. Yes, those are the terms we use when referring to people as gametes. But it's hard to extend that beyond this classification. It's useful for parentage, but can't really be a strict classification beyond that.

The overall theme here is that these are all correlations and clusters of traits that will always have exceptions, and you always have to cherrypick what's "biological" or not.

Thanks for this ask, it was fun to answer! I hope it was clear enough, it was mostly written pre-coffee. I'm also sorry it wasn't a very clean answer lol.

[spacefin]

PROBLEMS

Stress is created in a a certain diagram of how stress is created. A hundred and fifty newtons of stress is applied to the body. Calculate the trajectory that the body will take. Here are some variables. x = 4 y = 2 z = 10 From this, if you know what the variables are, and what those numbers mean, you should be able to calculate the trajectory exactly. With no error. But, what do the variables mean? Let's go over it again. X, y and z equals four, two, and ten. Which means that x equals two of y or z equals 10 of… z equals 10, that we know. And we want to construct a term that is equivalent to ten. Which is two x and a y. Like Klinefelter syndrome. Calculate the trajectory that this body will take with Klinefelter syndrome. Calculate the direction that the body will take if such a trajectory is given. Calculate, for the body's sake, the trajectory that the body will take. And x y z equals two, or four, or four and two and then ten equals zed. You should be able to calculate it exactly. The trajectory the body should take. If y equals 2. Or four equals eight. The trajectory can be known exactly. Exactly like what? Like two, or four, or ten. Ten can be known exactly. Calculate the trajectory of ten. Calculate the body. Calculate that trajectory again. Have you done it yet? You've been reading this. Get a pen and paper. Do it. Try it. You can, with a pen and paper, work out the problem. Come on. I can't wait that long. X equals two and four equals ten. Write it down. Four equals two, so ten equals two. And that's an insight. Write that down. Four equals ten, and ten equals two. I think we can take four and two and ten to be different words, for the same thing. Part two, or four, or ten. It's all the same thing. So what does it equal? X, and y, and z. Does Z equal X? (slow down here) No. I don't know. I lost track. It's not that I wouldn't understand if you told me, but I lost track. I was thinking about a bug. A bug somewhere else. I was somewhere else. I was with the bug. A bug doing what. Me and the bug, we were standing. We were close. And at the edges of the example we had a shrug, we were not sure.

In those moments, without a measure, I've seen the feeling I did not know.

We had a feeling. All of the measure. Is this what's experienced? I do not know.

What is the measure? Where's the experience? Can it be measured? I do not know.

What are you saying? What is the meaning? Will it be measured? I do not know.

Could you explain this in some more detail? Could you ex…….

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Jerry Coyne

Published: Jan 31, 2024

I predicted (or hoped) that with New Zealand’s new Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon of the centrist National Party, New Zealand’s educational system, which was circling the drain, would find its way out. After all, Luxon promised to reform the educational system by emphasizing “teaching the basics.”  (New Zealand performs poorly in math and reading compared to countries of comparable well being.) Most of all, I hoped that Luxon would purge the wokeness of the Kiwi educational system, especially the teaching of indigenous superstitions and “ways of knowing” that seem to be insinuating themselves into science education.

Now I’m not so sure.

Reader Al sent me the tweet below, which was like a (mild) punch in the gut. It comes from the (now protected) account of New Zealand’s Chief Science Advisor, Dame Juliet Gerrard. She was appointed for a three-year term on July 1, 2018, a term that was apparently renewed in 2021 by the woke and now ex-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Gerrard’s present term expires on June 30 of this year. I hope Luxon replaces her, as she’s clearly woke and misguided, and a fan of those who sacralize the indigenous people, a tendency that’s warped New Zealand academics.

At any rate, have a look at this tweet:

The first sentence is okay, the second is crazy, at least regarding “sex”. The third is mixed, for if you go to Wikipedia under Intersex, you see the declaration that sex is not binary, but also that indicators of sex, like genitalia, are pretty close to binary:

Intersex people are individuals born with any of several sex characteristics including chromosome patterns, gonads, or genitals that, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, “do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies”. Sex assignment at birth usually aligns with a child’s anatomical sex and phenotype. The number of births with ambiguous genitals is in the range of 1:4,500–1:2,000 (0.02%–0.05%).[3] Other conditions involve atypical chromosomes, gonads, or hormones.

The best source I know of for the frequency of intersex is that of Leonard Sax, which is also quoted ion the Wikipedia article:

A study published by Leonard Sax reports that this figure includes conditions such as late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia and XXY/Klinefelter syndrome which most clinicians do not recognize as intersex; Sax states, “if the term intersex is to retain any meaning, the term should be restricted to those conditions in which chromosomal sex is inconsistent with phenotypic sex, or in which the phenotype is not classifiable as either male or female,” stating the prevalence of intersex is about 0.018%. This means that for every 5,500 babies born, one either has sex chromosomes that do not match their appearance, or the appearance is so ambiguous that it is not clear whether the baby is male or female.

In both cases, the number of people considered “intersex” is very low.  But that’s pretty much irrelevant to the discussion of whether sex is a spectrum, for biologists, as we discussed yesterday, use a definition of sex involving gametes: if you have the reproductive apparatus to produce small mobile gametes (even if that apparatus is inactive), you’re a male who makes sperm. If you have the apparatus to produce large immobile gametes (even if you can’t, as if you’re postmenopausal or sterile), you’re a female who makes eggs.  If you don’t fit either of these classes, you’re often (but not invariably) classified as intersex.  The athlete Caster Semenya, for example, has internal undescended testes, designed for making sperm, but other female sex traits, like a vagina.  Biologically I’d call her a male, but wouldn’t quarrel if others want to call her “intersex”.

But the point is that intersex individuals are not members of a third sex, so don’t really affect the sex binary: there remain only two types of gametes. We have males, females, and those unclassifiable, with the latter having frequency of one individual in 5600.

I keep repeating myself on the sex binary, along with others like Richard Dawkins, Carole Hooven, and Colin Wright, but I’ll add that the sex binary humans says nothing about the humanity of intersex individuals or transgender individuals (who usually can be classified as biological sex). With a few exceptions involving things like sports and jails, the legal and moral rights of transgender or intersex individuals are independent how “sex” is defined by biologists, and these individuals should never be denigrated for their desire to transition or for the fact that they have a biological condition that makes them intersex.

Finally, the Science Advisor cites Siouxie Wiles, who you can read about on this site (two posts here), a science communicator and microbiologist who’s done some good things, but also vigorously opposed the Listener letter that argued against teaching indigenous ways of knowing as science.  As for @whaeapower on X, it’s another protected account, so I don’t know what it’s about. It may be a Māori site given that “whae” means “mother or aunt” in that language, and because Dame Gerrard has a Māori koru (fern front) tattoo on her back.

At any rate, I guess Dame Gerrard did protect her tweets, as this is what you find when you look for them:

My point, however, is this: the official Science Advisor to the Prime Minister should not be making erroneous statements about sex, even if those statements are made to give succor to people that are not of conventional gender. That she misunderstands sex does not bode well for science education in New Zealand if Dame Gerrard continues in her position after June 30.

As for whether what looks like a quasi-official “X” account should be protected, well, you can be the judge.

==

The supposed Chief Science Advisor position for any country should not be held by someone pretending they don't know where babies come from. It would be far better to employ someone like Ken Ham; he thinks we all got here by magic, but he doesn't pretend he doesn't know how a baby is made.

A post like this should be taken as a formal resignation letter.

[damnfandomproblems]

Reply to 4493:

I think it's that most differences between men and women come from centuries of different socialization rather than innate natural differences. And even the "innate natural differences" can be very fluid because of stuff like PCOS, Klinefelter syndrome, etc. And trans people are able to (for lack of better words) medically transition (HRT, top/bottom surgery, etc).

With that being said, how one genderbends a character can be a mixed bag. Personally I've never been a fan of stuff like "sexualization differences" in genderbending. For example, when a male character is genderbent to female and so they make her outfit a skimpier and more revealing version of the original otherwise basic outfit. Or vice versa for when genderbending female characters to male, and they make his outfit a more basic version of her original skimpy outfit.

I never liked that, never will, and I think it's a major reason why people don't like genderbends, because such changes seem so silly. I don't condone harassing artists over it, just that it's understandable why people don't like it.

But I do understand that there may be some nuanced reasons for why a genderbend might make the character vastly different. For example, Johnny Bravo. His character is based heavily on masculine stereotypes of being macho, buff, a cocky womanizer, etc. So how would a female version of that work? Some might give her the exact same traits as the original to see how Johnny's behaviors would look on a female character. And even in that situation, some might have her be a lesbian while others might have her go after men that way instead. But many others might make her based more on very feminine stereotypes to explore how a female Johnny Bravo might have been differently socialized.

Miguel O'Hara is another example. Some might make the female version less buff because they're horny. Some might keep her as buff because of the original's fighting style being very upper-body-based. Some might make her less buff because they think a female version might develop a different fighting style.

My point is that there are situations where genderbending a character can be a lot more complex than just "men and women aren't much different from each other" or "men and women have differences".

Posting since this is a response to a previous problem.

[the-faunaglade-collective]

I'm not actually sure what kind of cat he is, but as a cat obsessed idiot he's a fascinating individual!! See, he may be a chimera cat, however I am not sure. Chimera cats have interesting genetics as they are formed when 2 cat embryos fuse together in the womb to form a single kitten. Meaning they have two distinct sets of DNA. Male Chimeras are XY/XY meaning both embryos had XY chromosomes, and XX/XX chimeras are female but XX/XY chimeras also exist meaning the cat may appear male, female, or neither!  The presence of two sets of DNA in their bodies can also be found in their blood, where they may have two different blood types. Alternatively, Bruce may be a tortoiseshell cat which would be quite rare as most tortoiseshell cats (like calicoes) are female. This is because certain fur colours need certain chromosomes to be possible. For example, to produce an orange/ginger fur colour an X chromosome would be required and the same for black fur. Therefore, a cat would need XX chromosomes to allow it to have the combination of these fur colours. So how come 1 in 3000 or so of these cats are male? Well, there are XXY cats (Klinefelter syndrome in humans) that have a chromosomal condition characterized by an additional chromosome. This means that the cats appear male due to the Y chromosome, but still have two X chromosomes resulting in the unusual fur colour combinations. Personally, I think that this cat most likely has a somatic mutation (mosaic) which occurs when one cell within the embryo mutates and continues to divide in the usual way to create a patch of a different color, which is a seemingly impossible color combination. In any of the above cases, Bruce has red, white and black fur meaning he either has a mutation or an extra X chromosome (through having two sets of DNA or through a chromosomal condition) Please let me know if any of the above information is incorrect or if i am missing anything, thank you for taking the time to read my infodumping mess <3

[intersex-support]

Hello!

I saw the previous ask about Hypogonadism and I was wondering if Hypogonadism could occur without being related to other intersex variations (Chromosome related) BUT also not be cause by other outside factors (Like cancer, medicine, diet, stress I guess?)

Like is it possible for the gonads to just have formed wrong? (I'm referring to Primary Hypogonadism in this case)

Hi anon!

So there are a variety of factors that can cause primary hypogonadism outside of some of the intersex variations we've been discussing on the blog today (such as Klinefelters, Turners, Kallmanns), and also aren't things like environmental risk factors, diet, etc. This article mentions that undescended testicles that are never treated could cause primary hypogonadism. This article explains that fragile X syndrome and galactosaemia are two examples of other conditions that can cause hypogonadism. (There are also a lot of factors that can sometimes cause primary hypogonadism such as cancer treatment, hemochromatosis, mumps, and also normal aging, as well as factors that can sometimes cause secondary hypogonadism, such as HIV, Pituitary disorders, certain medications, malnutrition, and stress).

Beyond that, what I think you might be curious about is gonadal dysgenesis, which is essentially a term for when gonads develop atypically or don't develop at all, and is associated with a wide variety of presentations of symptoms, including chromosomal variations, hypogonadism, and various reproductive structures. There are many different intersex variations associated with gonadal dysgenesis, and there are a lot of different ways that gonadal dysgenesis shows up, but it can potentially cause disruptions in ovarian or testicular or ovotestes function. There's some case studies out there exploring different intersex people's experiences with hypogonadism with gonadal dysgenesis.

So basically, long answer is yes, atypical gonadal development is potentially a cause of hypogonadism for some people!

Hope that helped, anon!

[seethinglikeme]

claiming that i’m contradicting myself by saying the male and female sexes exist but then also saying intersex cases are ambiguous/depend is so stupid. like first of all it was very obvious that people with dsds are already exceptions to the general rule, that’s why they are people with dsds, if it wasn’t abnormal it wouldn’t be a disorder. i didn’t realise i had to say that. second of all, i addressed specific cases where they were brought up eg klinefelter syndrome, but some of the examples captain dumbass gave were literally just symptoms that could be caused by different dsds (eg ambiguous genitalia) or they could occur to someone of either sex (eg tetragametic chimeras), in which case yeah the sex of the person depends. these people are so fucking stupid you have to spoonfeed every little bit of information to them and it’s so annoying. this is why i don’t debate with tras, it’s just playing chess with a pigeon all over again

[hezigler]

Intersex in the US Today: A Report

Being intersex refers to a range of conditions in which a person's biological sex characteristics, such as chromosomes, hormones, or anatomy, do not fit typical binary notions of male or female. It's important to understand that intersex is a naturally occurring variation in humans, and intersex individuals have diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, just like the rest of the population.

Prevalence

Estimates of the prevalence of intersex variations in the United States vary. The most commonly cited figure, suggesting that up to 1.7% of the population is intersex, has been widely discussed but also critiqued for including conditions that some clinicians do not typically classify as intersex. More recent estimates, focusing on individuals with atypical chromosomal patterns, gonads, or genital morphology, place the prevalence closer to 0.015% to 0.05% of births. This means that while intersex variations are not as common as the higher estimate suggests, they are still a significant reality for many individuals.

Genetic Combinations Beyond XX and XY and Their Percentages

It's challenging to provide precise percentages for all the various genetic combinations associated with intersex variations due to the rarity of many specific conditions and the lack of comprehensive population-level data collection. However, some of the more well-known chromosomal variations and their approximate prevalence include:

* Klinefelter Syndrome (47, XXY): Occurs in approximately 1 in 500 to 1 in 1,000 male births (0.1-0.2%). Individuals typically have male external genitalia but may experience a range of physical characteristics and developmental differences.

* Turner Syndrome (45, X): Occurs in approximately 1 in 2,500 female births (0.04%). Individuals typically have female external genitalia but have only one X chromosome.

* Trisomy X (47, XXX): Occurs in approximately 1 in 1,000 female births (0.10%). Many individuals may not have any noticeable physical differences.

* 45,X/46,XY Mosaicism: Occurs in approximately 1 in 6,666 births (0.015%). Individuals have a mix of cells with 45,X and 46,XY chromosomes, leading to a wide range of physical presentations.

* 47, XYY Syndrome: Occurs in approximately 1 in 7,000 male births (0.0142%). Individuals typically have male external genitalia and may be taller.

* Other rarer chromosomal variations such as 48,XXXY, 49,XXXXY, and 48,XXYY have even lower prevalence rates, ranging from approximately 1 in 18,000 to 1 in 100,000 male births.

It's crucial to remember that intersex variations are not solely defined by chromosomal makeup. Other genetic factors, hormonal influences, and anatomical variations also contribute to the diversity of intersex experiences. Conditions like Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) and Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS), which involve hormonal and genetic factors, are also considered intersex variations. The prevalence of CAH, for example, varies depending on the specific type, with classical forms occurring in approximately 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 20,000 births.

Commercial Genetic Testing for Intersex in the US

Commercial genetic testing that includes testing for Disorders of Sex Development (DSD), which encompasses many intersex variations, is available in the United States. One prominent example is the Invitae Disorders of Sex Development Panel.

This panel analyzes multiple genes associated with atypical gonadal or anatomical sex development, often presenting with abnormalities of external genitalia, internal sex organs, hormonal dysregulation, and/or infertility. The testing can help confirm a diagnosis and guide treatment and management decisions. Invitae utilizes next-generation sequencing technology to perform full-gene sequencing and deletion/duplication analysis.

It's important to note that while commercial genetic testing can identify genetic variants associated with intersex conditions, the interpretation of these results and the diagnosis of an intersex variation typically require consultation with medical professionals, such as endocrinologists and geneticists, who specialize in DSD. Additionally, standard direct-to-consumer ancestry or general health genetic testing services may not be designed or reliable for diagnosing complex intersex conditions, often focusing on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rather than comprehensive chromosomal or gene-level analyses. For a definitive diagnosis, a karyotype test, which examines the full set of chromosomes, or targeted genetic sequencing recommended by a healthcare provider is usually necessary.

[official-megumin]

I feel like there is more stuff that needs to be pointed out.

There is currently a lot of lobbying to make it so that klinefelters and turners syndrome aren't considered intersex.

Both of these conditions are very obviously intersex conditions if you have even the most basic knowledge about it.

For example klinefelters means you have xxy(or even more x's) and that you produce excess estrogen, this makes you grow breasts, have an otherwise feminine figure and traits, but you have a fully formed penis.

There is even historical evidence for this specific condition being treated as a third or inbetween sex as we have a viking age scandinavian grave with a person proven to have had klinefelters who was buried with both male and female burial goods.

For this to not be considered intersex is outrageous. So it's very obvious that this lobbying only exists to deleligitemise intersex peopel and artificially deflate how common it is and it is very recent too.

Recently in Denmark the I in the lgbt+ acronym has also officially been removed by the government because they don't believe intersex people exist.

And as an intersex person who's already felt a lot of medical neglect due to my intersex condition, it's scary. And it's insulting.

Not just are intersex people actually pretty common, potentially more common than binary perisex trans people. It's also actively being erased and hidden.

It's a well known fact that many intersex babies have "corrective" genital surgery forced on them sometimes even without their parents being informed of it.

YOU could be intersex, and you wouldn't know. Don't let the world trample over us. Because that is what the world is trying to do right now

"But only 2% of the population is intersex. It's not that common. Why should we reframe or perception of gender for intersex people?"

Completely ignoring the fact that empathy exists. You do realize that 2% of the population in the medical field is considered very common, yes?

2% of children and 0.5% of adults have a peanut allergy and that's so common that they have entire rules around in in public spaces.

0.24-1% of the population has Rheumatoid arthritis. That's an eighth to a half of the number of intersex people!

1-2% of people are estimated to have autism, and that's considered a common condition.

0.1%-2.6% of people will get melanoma in their life time, and that's considered common.

1.2% of people have epilepsy and that's considered common.

Completely ignoring statistics like 6% of women have PCOS (which is a condition that can fall under the intersex umbrella). 2% of the population in the medical field is considered a common condition, and ergo by medical terms intersex is in itself common.

I don't think you realize how big 2% is. That's 2 in 100 people. If you walk into 3 fully filled classrooms (when I was in school a full classroom was 40 students). Chances are you just saw 2 intersex kids and didn't even know it.

So yeah. I think intersex is common enough to include in our discussions around gender and how transphobic rules affects intersex people.

-fae

[petculiars]

Calico Cat – All You Need To Know

New Post has been published on https://www.petculiars.com/calico-cat-all-you-need-to-know/

Calico Cat – All You Need To Know

Calico cats and kittens are known for their gorgeous, tricolor fur with shades of orange, black, and white. But their appearance is not the only impressive thing about these kittens.

Their genetics, for example, has been the subject of many detailed scientific studies since the 40s. In folklore, Calico cats are worshiped worldwide for their luck.

Calico is not a cat breed

The Calico breed does not exist. Rather, calico refers to the color variations on a feline’s fur. Although orange, black and white are the most common colors in calico, some cats may have shades of cream, bluish-black, red, or brown on their fur.

The origin of calico cats is a little unclear, it is a characteristic of the fur and not of the breed. But some evidence shows that they originated in Egypt, where they migrated to Italy, Greece, and Spain.

You can find cats with calico fur in many distinct cat breeds, such as the American Shorthair, the Persian cat, the Maine Coon, and the Cornish Rex.

Most Calico cats are female, males are very rare

You might also like my articles about:

Common calico cat health problems

Facts about orange tabby cats

Main coon size compared to normal cats

It is a known fact that 99.9% of calico cats are female due to the unique chromosomal structure that determines the color variations of their fur.

The chromosomes, X and Y, determine whether a cat will be male or female. Each cat has a pair of chromosomes with possible combinations of XX, female, and XY, male. The X chromosome is the one that carries the coding gene for the black and orange colors in the calico fur.

Female calico cats have two X chromosomes, so they have two color-coded chromosomes. By chance, and depending on the parents’ colors, both X chromosomes may bear the black code or both may bear the orange code, in which case the cat would have one of these colors.

Only if the cat has an X chromosome with the orange code and an X with the black code will it be calico, showing both black and orange color. To manage these two sets of color codes, the female embryo will close one X chromosome in each cell, resulting in variations of black and orange on the calico cat’s fur.

Because male cats have an X chromosome with black or orange code and a Y chromosome without color genes, they cannot technically be calico. They can be black or orange, but not both.

There is an exception. A genetic abnormality called Klinefelter syndrome, with the chromosomes XXY, occurs when a cat has two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome. This can result in a calico male cat.

About one in 3,000 calico cats are male and unfortunately do not live as long as a calico female due to genetic abnormalities. XXY syndrome causes calico males to be sterile and can be the leading cause of many other health problems.

However, with a healthy diet, exercise, and lots of love and attention, a calico male cat can lead a longer and happier life.

Calico cats cannot be multiplied

Due to the unique genetic structure, and the fact that calico males are born sterile, calico cats cannot actually be multiplied. Rather, nature creates these colorful kittens at random.

Calico cats do not have the same personality traits

Because calico cats are not a single breed, and cannot be multiplied, they do not share specific personality traits, temperaments, or tendencies.

If you are, however, looking for a certain personality type, many cat breeds can be calico. In this case, you can choose American Shorthair, Japanese Bobtail, and Maine Coon, among others.

Calico cat lifespan

The great thing about getting a Calico cat for a pet is that you can choose not only the signed tri-color appearance but also the life expectancy.

Some Calicos live up to 18-20 years, like the American Shorthairs, while others have a shorter lifespan of 12-15 years, like the Persian.

The average lifespan of calico cats can vary greatly, but remember, the secret to a long, happy and healthy life is a nutritious diet, a protective shelter, and a lot of love when the cat allows it.

Calico cats are a sign of luck

Because calico cats are so rare, especially tomcats, they are considered a sign of good luck all over the world. Here are some examples of folklore and superstitions about these cats:

In the past, Japanese fishermen brought calico cats on their ships to protect them from storms, but also from the ghosts of their envious ancestors.

According to Irish folklore, you can cure warts by rubbing the tail of a calico cat on the affected area, but only during May. It’s probably a better idea to make an appointment with a dermatologist for this.

The famous Japanese cat Beckoning, or Maneki-Neko, was inspired by a calico model. They are often placed at the entrances of homes and business offices to bring good luck. Maneki-Neko dates back to 1870, so these kittens have a long history of bringing good luck.

In the United States, calico cats are often called “money cats” because they bring good luck to their owners.

The calico cat is the official cat of a state

Only three states in the United States have official feline representatives: Maine, Massachusetts, and Maryland.

Just as the Main Coon is the official cat of the Main State, the calico cat is the official cat of Maryland State in the United States. It was elected by the government as a symbol in October 2001.

How to care for Calico cats

If you have recently adopted a new kitten and it happens to be a Calico cat, here are some useful tips and tricks that will guide you on your journey.

Find the right breed

It is extremely important to discover the real breed of your Calico cat. Knowing the breed will help you focus on the right cat food, as each breed has specific food requirements. In addition, it is one of the easiest ways to know what to expect in terms of personality, growth, lifespan, health problems, etc.

Beware of the health problems of the calico cat

Once you have found out the breed of a Calico cat, you need to take into account the specific health problems of the breed. Some breeds are generally healthy, while others tend to be more prone to disease development.

Pay special attention to the fur

Calico cats are notorious stops wherever they go due to their unique and colorful fur patterns. Unfortunately, their uniqueness is a two-edged sword. Different colors make it more difficult to detect skin problems at once, as well as other things, such as fleas and ticks.

And the ultimate advice for caring for a new Calico kitten – don’t forget to give it the love and attention it needs and deserves every day. Even though cats can’t talk, they know how to show us how grateful they are for all our efforts and devotion in their unique ways.

[ivfttreatmentinindia]

Infertility Treatment For Male – What Are 4 Causes Of Male Infertility?

Males have obstacles to infertility treatment for male issues due to many causes including low sperm count, poor sperm quality, or issues with sperm delivery during intercourse. To get rid of male infertility somehow diagnosis, and treatment options are available, for instance, medications to correct hormonal imbalance or treat infections, which can improve sperm production that will assist in conceiving a baby with your partner.

In the manner of these associated causes, we have disclosed the several reasons that cause male infertility in the afore paragraphs. Let’s begin the conversation on its essential components to reduce the chances of infertility in the male gender.

Causes Of Male Infertility Causes Of Male Infertility Causes Of Male Infertility

Male infertility might be indicated by the variety of major factors that affect sperm production, function, or complete sperm delivery in the intercourse period.

Sperm Production Issues Low Sperm Count: With certain causes in the lifestyle males can face infertility issues that reduce the chances of fertilization due to insufficient sperm production. Poor Sperm Quality: Undesirable sperm shape or poor motility hinders the ability to reach, and fertilize the eggs. Azoospermia: this is a very critical situation in which males can face a complete blockage or genetic condition that stops delivering sperm outside of the penis. Hormonal Imbalance In the hormonal imbalance section are two major causes that can affect the male reproductive system such as testosterone, and hormonal disorders. On the other hand, hypogonadism also can stop the delivery of sperm from the penis. Lifestyle & Environmental Causes Intake of excessive alcohol use, smoking, drug abuse, and poor diet might be a cause of low sperm count. In contrast, it can be happened in rare times, exposure to toxins, chemicals, or radiation can reduce the quality of sperm. Medical Conditions Medical conditions play a significant role in infertility issues such as STIs, prostatitis, and epididymitis can disservice the male reproductive system. Chronic Illnesses: Most infertility patients suffer from diseases such as diabetes, and obesity can impair fertility. Genetic Disorders Conditions like Klinefelter syndrome, or the Y chromosome can lead to male infertility. Sexual Issues This is the common cause of male infertility in which Erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and retrograde can hinder sperm delivery. We hope that infertility patients can understand the all necessary causes of male sterile issues in the upper case of bullets. Now, it’s time to jump to the next section where we’ll express the remedy for male infertility that helps to enhance the chances of fertility to become a father.

How Many Types Of Infertility Treatments For Male Sterile? Infertility Treatments For Male Sterile Infertility Treatments For Male Sterile

With the obtaining information, we have mentioned the types of treatments for male infertility in any corner of the world.

Infertility Treatment For Males Male infertility treatment aims to address those issues which are affecting male sperm production, quality, or delivery. Albeit, it depends on the infertility patient to choose the right treatment to get a remedy for infertility based on the below-mentioned procedures.

Medications – Use Drugs or Other Medicines To Prevent From Disease Medications mean you have to intake some medicines by following the doctor’s prescription. In this case, Hormonal imbalance, infections, and inflammation, affecting infertility can be remedied by helping medications. Tend towards the solution, for example, antibiotics, are prescribed for penis infection, while hormone therapy addresses conditions such as low count of testosterone levels.

Lifestyle Changes Improving lifestyle choices always helps to enhance the chances of fertility with your partner. You have to make some promises to yourself to quit smoking and alcohol consumption, maintain a healthy weight, and reduce stress from your head, Dietary supplements such as Zinc, selenium, and antioxidants, can also enhance sperm quality.

Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2021 Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): In the form of IUI treatment fertility doctors involve placing concentrated sperm directly into the uterus to enhance fertilization with a partner in the laboratory treatment.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): This is the most popular remedy for male infertility IVF specialists obtain healthy sperm to fertilize an egg in the laboratory dish, and afterward, develop an embryo in a laboratory, then doctors will transfer the embryo into the uterus.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): In the term of following to bring a single healthy sperm is injected directly into an egg, often used in cases of remedy male fertility.

Donor Sperm – Use Another Male Sperm For Fertility Suppose your infertility condition has been down badly. In that case, you must choose the option of donor sperm to conceive a baby in which IVF doctors will use another male sperm with fertilized eggs in the laboratory dish.

However, consulting a fertility remedy in the previous headings, and determining the most appropriate suitable treatment plan for male infertility.

Visit us: https://worldfertilityservices.com/blog/infertility-treatment-for-male/

[nishmahealthassist]

A comprehensive guide of Male Infertility Treatment

Male infertility is man’s inability to start a pregnancy with his female partner after trying for 1 year with regular sex and no birth control.

Symptoms of Male Infertility 

In some cases, however, an underlying problem such as an inherited disorder, hormonal imbalance, dilated veins around the testicle or a condition that blocks the passage of sperm causes signs and symptoms. 

Problems with sexual function — for example, difficulty with ejaculation or small volumes of fluid ejaculated, reduced sexual desire, or difficulty maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction)

Pain, swelling or a lump in the testicle area

Recurrent respiratory infections

Inability to smell

Abnormal breast growth (gynecomastia)

Decreased facial or body hair or other signs of a chromosomal or hormonal abnormality

A lower-than-normal sperm count (fewer than 15 million sperm per millilitre of semen or a total sperm count of less than 39 million per ejaculate)

Common Causes of Male Infertility 

Male infertility is a complex issue that can develop from various medical, lifestyle, and environmental factors.

Low Sperm Count (Oligospermia): This condition is characterized by fewer than 15 million sperm per millilitre of semen. Causes include obstructions in the reproductive tract, such as those resulting from cystic fibrosis or surgical trauma to the testicles.

Azoospermia: A complete absence of sperm in the semen affects about 10-15% of infertile men. This can result from hormonal imbalances or blockages preventing sperm from being released.

Abnormal Sperm Morphology (Teratozoospermia): This condition involves more than 96% of sperm having abnormal shapes, which can hinder their ability to fertilize an egg. Factors contributing to this include genetic defects and exposure to toxins like alcohol and drugs.

Low Sperm Motility (Asthenospermia): Low motility means that sperm do not swim effectively towards the egg, which can be caused by infections, genetic issues, or conditions like varicocele.

Varicocele: This is an enlargement of veins within the scrotum that can lead to low sperm count and abnormal sperm shape. It is one of the most common causes of male infertility, affecting around 40% of men with infertility issues.

Hormonal Imbalances: Conditions such as hypogonadism (insufficient hormone production) or hypergonadism (excess hormone production) can significantly affect sperm production and quality.

Infections: Infections in the reproductive tract, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), can lead to inflammation and reduced sperm quality or quantity. Chronic infections may also cause blockages in the reproductive system.

Genetic Defects: Genetic abnormalities such as Klinefelter syndrome can result in low testosterone levels and poor sperm production due to structural issues in the reproductive system.

Environmental Factors: Exposure to heavy metals, pesticides, and other environmental toxins can adversely affect sperm production and quality. Additionally, lifestyle factors like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are significant contributors.

Ejaculation Disorders: Conditions such as retrograde ejaculation (where semen enters the bladder instead of exiting through the penis) or premature ejaculation can prevent sperm from reaching the egg during intercourse.

Industrial chemicals: Extended exposure to certain chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, organic solvents and painting materials may contribute to low sperm counts.

Heavy metal exposure: Exposure to lead or other heavy metals also may cause infertility.

Radiation or X-rays: Exposure to radiation can reduce sperm production, though it will often eventually return to normal. With high doses of radiation, sperm production can be permanently reduced.

Overheating the testicles: Elevated temperatures may impair sperm production and function.

Drug use: Anabolic steroids taken to stimulate muscle strength and growth can cause the testicles to shrink and sperm production to decrease. Use of cocaine or marijuana may temporarily reduce the number and quality of sperm as well.

Alcohol use: Drinking alcohol can lower testosterone levels, cause erectile dysfunction and decrease sperm production. Liver disease caused by excessive drinking also may lead to fertility problems.

Weight: Obesity can impair fertility in several ways, including directly impacting sperm themselves as well as by causing hormone changes that reduce male fertility.

Procedure Details of Male Infertility Treatment 

Male infertility treatment involves various procedures that can remove underlying causes of infertility. 

Surgical Treatments

Varicocele Repair: Surgical intervention may be necessary, although it is not always recommended unless the varicocele is significant.

Correction of Blockages: Surgical procedures can treat blockages in the reproductive tract, such as those caused by injury or vasectomy. This may involve reconnecting or opening blocked tubes.

Testicular Biopsy and Sperm Retrieval: In cases of azoospermia (absence of sperm in ejaculate), a testicular biopsy can be performed to retrieve sperm directly from the testicles. This procedure is often done under local anaesthesia and can be followed by techniques like Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).

Hormonal Treatments

Hormonal imbalances affecting sperm production may be treated with medications such as gonadotropins (hCG and FSH). These treatments aim to stimulate sperm production and can take several months to show results.

Psychological Support

Infertility can cause significant emotional stress for couples. Professional counselling services are often recommended to help manage the psychological impact of infertility treatments.

How Long Does the Procedure Last? 

Male infertility treatments can take one to two years or longer to achieve normal fertility.

Hormonal treatment lasts at least six months and usually one to two years.

Surgical treatments, such as varicocele repair or correction of blockages, generally have a recovery period of about one to three days, but the overall effectiveness in improving fertility may take longer to assess. The full impact on fertility can be evaluated over several months post-surgery.

Assisted reproductive techniques are necessary, procedure time can vary widely depending on individual circumstances and may involve multiple cycles of treatment, each lasting several weeks.

Benefits of Male Infertility Treatment 

Medications can help to restore hormonal balance by increasing testosterone levels and reducing oestrogen levels. This can improve sperm production and overall fertility.

Hormonal therapies can stimulate the pituitary gland to enhance sperm production, particularly beneficial for men with low sperm counts due to hormonal deficiencies.

Surgical procedures can resolve blockages in the reproductive tract, such as those caused by a varicocele or previous vasectomies. These surgeries can restore natural sperm transport and improve fertility outcomes.

For men with azoospermia (no sperm in ejaculate), sperm retrieval through biopsy can facilitate assisted reproductive techniques like ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), increasing the chances of conception.

ART methods, including IVF and ICSI, allow couples to conceive even with low or abnormal sperm counts. These techniques can significantly increase the likelihood of pregnancy.

In cases of low motility or abnormal sperm, ART can utilize the existing sperm effectively, maximizing the chances of successful fertilization.

Nutritional Supplements helps to enhance sperm integrity, motility and may increase testosterone levels and improve sperm count.

Psychological support can help relieve stress and anxiety associated with fertility challenges. This support can positively impact overall well-being and relationship dynamics.

Risks or Complications Associated with Male Infertility Treatment 

Fertility drugs may cause side effects such as mood swings, headaches, nausea, hot flashes, disrupt the body's natural hormone balance, low libido or changes in sexual function.

In surgical treatments there is risk of Infection, Damage surrounding nerves or blood vessels.

Recurrence of Issues: Even after surgery, there is no guarantee that fertility will improve; some conditions may recur.

For men undergoing cancer treatment, chemotherapy and radiation may severely damage sperm production, leading to temporary or permanent infertility.

Treatment Success Rate: Analysing Effectiveness and Long-Term Benefits 

Hormonal therapy for male infertility can be successful for men with low testosterone levels or other hormonal imbalances. Success rates of hormonal therapy generally range between 30% and 40% depending on the underlying cause of infertility. 

Surgical Treatments, particularly for varicocele, has a success rate of approximately 30% to 60% in improving sperm count and achieving pregnancy, depending on the severity of the varicocele and the presence of other fertility issues. Surgery is more effective in younger men and those with milder forms of infertility.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), where sperm is injected into the female partner’s uterus, is often used when sperm count or motility is low. The success rate of IUI depends on several factors but typically ranges from 10% to 20% per cycle. For IUI to be effective, sperm quality needs to be adequate, and the female partner must have normal fertility.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) with Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is one of the most successful treatments for male infertility, particularly in cases where sperm quality is poor. Success rates for IVF with ICSI vary widely but generally range from 40% to 70% per cycle, depending on the age of the female partner and sperm quality. For men with severe male infertility (e.g., azoospermia or very low sperm count), IVF with ICSI offers the best chance of successful fertilization.

The long-term benefits of male infertility treatment can vary greatly depending on individual circumstances, and multiple treatment options. It can include improved overall health, increased quality of life, and the joy of building a family.

Frequently Asked Questions About Male Infertility Treatment in India

What are the common treatments for male infertility?

Common treatments for male infertility in India include medication to improve sperm count and quality, surgical procedures to correct structural issues.

How successful are these treatments for male infertility in India?

The success rates of male infertility treatments in India can vary depending on the underlying cause of infertility and the type of treatment chosen. 

Are there any risks or side effects associated with male infertility treatments?

There can be risks and side effects associated with male infertility treatments in India, such as reactions to medications, infection from surgical procedures. 

Are there any lifestyle changes or alternative therapies that can improve male fertility?

Yes, there are some lifestyle changes that can help improve male fertility, such as maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding toxins like smoking and alcohol, and exercising regularly. Some alternative therapies like acupuncture or herbal supplements may also be beneficial, but it is important to consult with a healthcare provider before trying any alternative treatments.

If you are suffering from infertility and need help regarding your treatment, please connect to Nishma Health Assist Private Ltd. We will love to answer your queries. Our services are completely free.

Contact Number: +918009003879

Email ID: bdteam@nishmahealthassist.comWebsite: https://www.nishmahealthassist.com/

[since-times-long-forgotten]

okay so I'm not sure if we actually know for sure, but I'll do a breakdown of possibilities!!

blue eyes makes me think maybe some kind of dominant blue eye (DBE) gene at work.

his body appears to be a black tortoiseshell. solid black & orange (orange = visually tabby, but not actually genetically tabby, bc the black is solid), with the black brindled into the orange enough that it looks kinda like black stripes but is actually not.

so we've got a few possibilities:

he's a chimera

he's got XXY chromosomes (Klinefelter's) and just has really weird color distribution, maybe due to the DBE gene interacting with it somehow, or just from random chance

he's secretly actually an XX female... and just has really weird color distribution.

some weird combination of the above

My bet is on option 2, if he's indeed male like he was said to be!

I think he has XXY chromosomes, and is a DBE black tortoiseshell with low white spotting, who just happens to have weird color distribution- either due to the DBE gene interacting with how the colors present, or just random chance. X-inactivation my beloved.

We can see more examples of similar phenotypes in other non-chimera cats, such as these DBE black torties in the Céleste and British Shorthair breeds:

celestes from here

british shorthairs from here

@/felinefractious covered this as well, which helped me come to my conclusion! This and this are their two posts covering it, I suggest checking them out!