manlycoffee on Nostr: Chris Trottier speaking of genetics and gender, there is a condition where a child is ...
Chris Trottier (npub1jeq…jglm) speaking of genetics and gender, there is a condition where a child is born appearing to be a girl, but it isn't until puberty does that child go from having vagina, to having a penis, in spite of no gender-affirming care at all. It's all hormones.
The condition is called "5α-reductase deficiency". And as the name implies, it's when someone has a deficiency in an enzyme called 5α-reductase. That enzyme is supposed to metabolize testosterone into a more potent androgen called 5α-dihydrotestosterone (or DHT or short). So given that the child is deficient in such a powerful masculinizing hormone, the child doesn't develop masculine characteristics until puberty.
There are reports of these children being OK with being raised as girls, but then live the rest of their adulthood as men. Some of these men proudly carry a female name that their parents gave them when they were born.
The condition is called "5α-reductase deficiency". And as the name implies, it's when someone has a deficiency in an enzyme called 5α-reductase. That enzyme is supposed to metabolize testosterone into a more potent androgen called 5α-dihydrotestosterone (or DHT or short). So given that the child is deficient in such a powerful masculinizing hormone, the child doesn't develop masculine characteristics until puberty.
There are reports of these children being OK with being raised as girls, but then live the rest of their adulthood as men. Some of these men proudly carry a female name that their parents gave them when they were born.