Girl discovers she is a man after 21 years

A 21-year-old girl (Hung Yen) went to the doctor and was surprised to discover that she was a man, while she had the appearance of a beautiful girl.

On October 23, 108 Central Military Hospital (108 Central Military Hospital) informed about a rare case where genotype, hormones and body shape are not consistent.

A 21-year-old girl ( Hung Yen ) came to the doctor because she had no period. Since childhood, she was raised as a girl, and when she reached puberty, she developed normally. However, when examined, the doctor discovered an abnormality in her private area.

Test results showed a 46,XY karyotype, male genetic sex, testosterone levels within the physiological range for males. MRI confirmed the absence of uterus and ovaries.

Surgeons restore patient's true gender.

The patient was diagnosed with 46,XY sex development disorder, a rare genetic abnormality (0.01 – 0.02%) in which genotype, hormones and physical appearance are inconsistent.

Dr. Nguyen Van Phuc, Department of Andrology, 108 Military Central Hospital said: A person's gender is not only determined by physical appearance but is a combination of chromosomes, hormones and genitals. In normal people, the SRY gene on the Y chromosome acts as a "switch" to activate the testicular development process. When the testicles form, testosterone helps develop the male genitalia, while the hormone AMH inhibits the development of the uterus and fallopian tubes.

When one of these stages is disrupted, there is a lack of testosterone, or the body does not respond to male hormones, the physical gender can deviate from the genetic gender. The patient undergoes surgery to restore the true gender.

After surgery, patients are counseled to determine their male gender, in accordance with their current genetics and hormones. Psychological support is provided in parallel to help patients understand themselves, stabilize their minds and integrate into society. If they want to have children, in vitro fertilization with donor sperm is a viable option.

Dr. Phuc emphasized that early detection helps to determine appropriate gender orientation, prevent the risk of hidden testicular cancer and reduce psychological trauma for patients. The diagnostic process should be performed at specialized facilities in Andrology, Endocrinology, and Genetics, where chromosome testing, endocrinology, and imaging can be performed to determine the exact biological sex.

Treatment of disorders of sexual development is not only about physical correction but also a journey of biological, psychological and social adjustment. Dr. Phuc emphasized that the most effective approach is to coordinate multidisciplinary andrology, endocrinology, genetics, and psychology to ensure that patients receive comprehensive support both physically and mentally.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/y-te/co-gai-phat-hien-minh-la-dan-ong-sau-21-nam--i785534/