A huge fraction of people who are intersex are completely unaware that they are. So, in preparation for Pride Month:
Here are tons of signs that you're intersex:
You naturally have a large clitoris (numbers are complicated) or small phallus (<2.7 inches erect or <1.5 inches flaccid)
You have parts that look like an intermediate between a clitoris and a phallus (clitorophallus)
You do not have a clitorophallus at all (ie, no clitoris, no phallus; nothing)
Your urethra is lower or higher than usual (for phalluses: should be centered on top of the glans -- for vulvas: should have several millimeters of space between the clitoris, urethra, and vagina)
Your urethra is not externally visible
You have a penis or phallus with an opening between the base of phallus and anus.
You have a vulva without a vaginal opening, or have a small, easily irritated or nonelastic opening
You have a vulva with partially or completely fused labia (begins from the bottom of the vulva or from the clitoris - may have a webbed appearance rather than flush skin)
You have a penis with very small or undescended testes
You went through androgenizing puberty and have prominent breast tissue
You went through estrogeninizing puberty and have little to no breast tissue.
You went through both androgenizing and estrogenizing puberty
You never hit puberty, had very little development during puberty, or had a late onset puberty.
You have had imaging tests that show "missing," differently shaped, mixed, or otherwise unexpected internal genitalia.
You have had unexplained medical issues regarding sex traits or genitalia since childhood or adolescence.
You have any of the above signs and are struggling with fertility
Other family members display similar traits (note: this is *not* necessary as not all intersex variations are inherited)
You have had DNA testing and the karyotype came back with an unexpected result (ex: XX instead of XY, or an error message)
You have had high or low levels of sex hormones since puberty (it's okay if all you have are signs that they were high or low in childhood)
You have widespread body hair or any amount of facial hair alongside an estrogenizing puberty
You are experiencing androgenic alopecia and have close-to-female anatomy.
You are unable to grow body/facial hair and have close-to-male anatomy.
You have a very androgynous face, or your face passes as a different gender from your body (this one is Subjective and not indicative on its own)
You have unexplained scarring in the genitalia area. If this one is you, please get in touch with InterAct Advocates, Genital Autonomy, or online Intersex communities before you dig for info.
This is an extremely sensitive topic and may be traumatizing (CIMI / IGM). You also want to make sure what you've found are scars, instead of natural tissue - intersex bodies may develop extra tissue in some places (ex: vulvar hypospadias and hooding of the urethra)
Alright. That's all I got for now. If you're starting to question things now, it may feel scary at first, but you don't have to do it alone. The intersex community online has so many amazing resources and wonderful helpful people in it.
For some primers, check out InterAct Advocates! Happy almost Pride! I'm excited to celebrate with you with us <3
janainaart
yousharknotpass
theartofmadeline
dededos
