Regina Barber

So usually when people who are not doctors or scientists are talking about biological sex, this is what they really mean. But these physical characteristics don't really fall on a strict binary. I mean, we have tall women and short men. We have women with flatter chests and men without facial hair. People's appearances can really vary. But I digress.

So usually when people who are not doctors or scientists are talking about biological sex, this is what they really mean. But these physical characteristics don't really fall on a strict binary. I mean, we have tall women and short men. We have women with flatter chests and men without facial hair. People's appearances can really vary. But I digress.

So usually when people who are not doctors or scientists are talking about biological sex, this is what they really mean. But these physical characteristics don't really fall on a strict binary. I mean, we have tall women and short men. We have women with flatter chests and men without facial hair. People's appearances can really vary. But I digress.

Exactly. Exactly. All of these things have the potential to differ from one another or to be ambiguous or unclear. Like someone's chromosomes might be XY, but they don't have a penis or they do have a penis, but they also have internal ovaries. And these differences generally fall under the umbrella of something called intersex conditions.

Exactly. Exactly. All of these things have the potential to differ from one another or to be ambiguous or unclear. Like someone's chromosomes might be XY, but they don't have a penis or they do have a penis, but they also have internal ovaries. And these differences generally fall under the umbrella of something called intersex conditions.

Exactly. Exactly. All of these things have the potential to differ from one another or to be ambiguous or unclear. Like someone's chromosomes might be XY, but they don't have a penis or they do have a penis, but they also have internal ovaries. And these differences generally fall under the umbrella of something called intersex conditions.

This is Eileen Wong. She's a physician, specifically an adult urologist. And she says that although intersex conditions are rare, they're not as rare as you think. Wait, like how common are they? Well, estimates can vary. But the most common number that I've seen thrown around is that intersex conditions overall affect one to two people in every 100.

This is Eileen Wong. She's a physician, specifically an adult urologist. And she says that although intersex conditions are rare, they're not as rare as you think. Wait, like how common are they? Well, estimates can vary. But the most common number that I've seen thrown around is that intersex conditions overall affect one to two people in every 100.

This is Eileen Wong. She's a physician, specifically an adult urologist. And she says that although intersex conditions are rare, they're not as rare as you think. Wait, like how common are they? Well, estimates can vary. But the most common number that I've seen thrown around is that intersex conditions overall affect one to two people in every 100.

So that would make it about as common as having red hair and even more common than being born an identical twin.

So that would make it about as common as having red hair and even more common than being born an identical twin.

So that would make it about as common as having red hair and even more common than being born an identical twin.

Exactly. And Eileen is really passionate about intersex awareness because she says her training—she went to med school at Yale, she did her residency at Stanford— it still left her really unprepared to treat intersex patients.

Exactly. And Eileen is really passionate about intersex awareness because she says her training—she went to med school at Yale, she did her residency at Stanford— it still left her really unprepared to treat intersex patients.

Exactly. And Eileen is really passionate about intersex awareness because she says her training—she went to med school at Yale, she did her residency at Stanford— it still left her really unprepared to treat intersex patients.

Eileen told me that in the past, there was this big push to normalize intersex patients' bodies. Doctors would look at an intersex child and operate on them, usually without those children's full understanding or consent. So their bodies would conform to more typical sex assignments.

Eileen told me that in the past, there was this big push to normalize intersex patients' bodies. Doctors would look at an intersex child and operate on them, usually without those children's full understanding or consent. So their bodies would conform to more typical sex assignments.

Eileen told me that in the past, there was this big push to normalize intersex patients' bodies. Doctors would look at an intersex child and operate on them, usually without those children's full understanding or consent. So their bodies would conform to more typical sex assignments.

And in 2018, the American Academy of Family Physicians issued a statement opposing medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex children, basically saying this is harmful and we shouldn't do it anymore. But Eileen says there's still a huge information gap when it comes to intersex bodies and medical treatment. Faisal specializes in this kind of treatment. And here he is again.

And in 2018, the American Academy of Family Physicians issued a statement opposing medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex children, basically saying this is harmful and we shouldn't do it anymore. But Eileen says there's still a huge information gap when it comes to intersex bodies and medical treatment. Faisal specializes in this kind of treatment. And here he is again.