On February 8, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nhu reported that in 2005, the Urology Department of Binh Dan Hospital treated approximately 20 cases of genital abnormalities. Among these, one case involved a pseudohermaphrodite male.
The patient was a 25-year-old man from Central Vietnam.
Doctors at the Urology Department of Binh Dan Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City) determined that he was biologically male, but his testicles were located in his abdomen and had not developed properly.
For some reason, the patient’s body had resisted Androgen (a hormone secreted by the testicles that drives male development). As a result, the patient’s body began to develop in a female direction.
Surgery to correct gender for the pseudohermaphrodite male patient.
(Photo: Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nhu/VNN)
Seven to eight years ago, this patient was discovered to have a cyst in his abdomen, which led him to undergo surgery for its removal. After the “cyst” was removed, the patient returned to normal health.
However, doctors at Binh Dan Hospital later concluded that the so-called “cyst” might actually have been the patient’s testicle. It wasn’t until recently, as the patient was preparing for marriage, that he came to Binh Dan Hospital to have an examination for his enlarged clitoris. At this point, he was diagnosed as a pseudohermaphrodite male.
Subsequently, the hospital performed surgery to reduce the size of the vagina and prescribed additional medication to promote female hormone production.
In this case, the testicles remained undeveloped within the abdomen.
Currently, there are various levels of pseudohermaphroditism worldwide, ranging from bodies that are almost entirely female in appearance, to underdeveloped testicles, and the absence of a vagina. Statistics indicate a prevalence of one in 20,000 to one in 64,000 births suffering from one of these disorders.
The patient’s Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome results from a genetic abnormality on the XY chromosome.
Though these patients have external characteristics that resemble females, they do not possess ovaries or a uterus. They also do not experience menstrual cycles, and their clitoris may be enlarged like a pinky finger.
This condition is commonly referred to by specialists as pseudohermaphroditism in males.
Dr. Nhu further noted that many parents may suspect abnormalities in their children but do not seek timely medical attention for examinations and treatments. The optimal time for intervention during sexual development is before 18 months of age. Early treatment can lead to better outcomes for the child.
Huong Cat
