Regina Barber

So for a number of reasons, after birth, the baby can develop in a way that's different from what the tests predicted. And that's where this second metric for determining sex comes in.

So for a number of reasons, after birth, the baby can develop in a way that's different from what the tests predicted. And that's where this second metric for determining sex comes in.

Yeah. So a big part of sex and how it develops has to do with hormones. Right. And those chemical hormones, they fluctuate through your whole life. Like, as a little kid, you had a different hormone profile than when you went through puberty or than when you start going through menopause.

Yeah. So a big part of sex and how it develops has to do with hormones. Right. And those chemical hormones, they fluctuate through your whole life. Like, as a little kid, you had a different hormone profile than when you went through puberty or than when you start going through menopause.

Yeah. So a big part of sex and how it develops has to do with hormones. Right. And those chemical hormones, they fluctuate through your whole life. Like, as a little kid, you had a different hormone profile than when you went through puberty or than when you start going through menopause.

Way earlier. Okay. All humans have hormones like testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, etc. They just have them in different quantities and different cycles. Wow. And those hormones really fluctuate through life. So a fetus gets the first hit of these hormones in the womb. That triggers things like genital growth and certain types of brain development.

Way earlier. Okay. All humans have hormones like testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, etc. They just have them in different quantities and different cycles. Wow. And those hormones really fluctuate through life. So a fetus gets the first hit of these hormones in the womb. That triggers things like genital growth and certain types of brain development.

Way earlier. Okay. All humans have hormones like testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, etc. They just have them in different quantities and different cycles. Wow. And those hormones really fluctuate through life. So a fetus gets the first hit of these hormones in the womb. That triggers things like genital growth and certain types of brain development.

Then there's another hormone surge in babies after birth within the first six months. It's one that endocrinologists call mini-puberty.

Then there's another hormone surge in babies after birth within the first six months. It's one that endocrinologists call mini-puberty.

Then there's another hormone surge in babies after birth within the first six months. It's one that endocrinologists call mini-puberty.

This is Faisal Ahmed. He's a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Glasgow. And he says that once adolescent puberty hits, there's usually an increase in hormones. Those chemicals can also be delayed or boosted, for example, during gender-affirmative hormone therapy. And they're usually what trigger the development of a bunch of other characteristics that we use to determine sex.

This is Faisal Ahmed. He's a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Glasgow. And he says that once adolescent puberty hits, there's usually an increase in hormones. Those chemicals can also be delayed or boosted, for example, during gender-affirmative hormone therapy. And they're usually what trigger the development of a bunch of other characteristics that we use to determine sex.

This is Faisal Ahmed. He's a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Glasgow. And he says that once adolescent puberty hits, there's usually an increase in hormones. Those chemicals can also be delayed or boosted, for example, during gender-affirmative hormone therapy. And they're usually what trigger the development of a bunch of other characteristics that we use to determine sex.

Well, yes. This can refer to internal genitalia, like ovaries, or external genitalia, like penis and testes. Or we could also look at secondary sexual characteristics, things that usually don't develop until puberty, like breasts or facial hair.

Well, yes. This can refer to internal genitalia, like ovaries, or external genitalia, like penis and testes. Or we could also look at secondary sexual characteristics, things that usually don't develop until puberty, like breasts or facial hair.

Well, yes. This can refer to internal genitalia, like ovaries, or external genitalia, like penis and testes. Or we could also look at secondary sexual characteristics, things that usually don't develop until puberty, like breasts or facial hair.

Or even things that are determined in part by hormones and are often used to differentiate sex, like your voice or your height or the distribution of fat and muscle on your body. Wow. Wow. I didn't even think about those last things. Like, you're totally right. Yeah. And those physical traits are really the main observable characteristics, the ones that don't require lab work.

Or even things that are determined in part by hormones and are often used to differentiate sex, like your voice or your height or the distribution of fat and muscle on your body. Wow. Wow. I didn't even think about those last things. Like, you're totally right. Yeah. And those physical traits are really the main observable characteristics, the ones that don't require lab work.

Or even things that are determined in part by hormones and are often used to differentiate sex, like your voice or your height or the distribution of fat and muscle on your body. Wow. Wow. I didn't even think about those last things. Like, you're totally right. Yeah. And those physical traits are really the main observable characteristics, the ones that don't require lab work.