A Chinese individual with both male and female reproductive organs has become the subject of widespread discussion. This person lived the early years of their life as a woman, gave birth, and became a mother, but later transitioned to living as a man and became a father.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Monday, Liu, a 59-year-old from southwestern China, has both male and female reproductive organs. Although Liu is officially identified as a female on her ID card, Liu currently lives as a male.
Liu spent the early years of their life as a woman. From childhood, Liu displayed preferences and tendencies that differed from most female peers. Liu always preferred short hair and men’s clothes, often facing misunderstandings when using women’s restrooms.
Liu has been married twice. In her first marriage, she gave birth to a son, and in the second marriage, Liu married a woman and had another son.
Thus, Liu is a mother to the first child and a father to the second.
However, Liu couldn’t legally marry the mother of the second child. Since Liu’s official gender is registered as female, it was impossible to register the marriage due to China’s laws prohibiting same-sex marriage.
Consequently, Liu asked the first husband to help register the marriage with the second child’s mother, promising additional child support for their son.
When this news broke, doctors suggested Liu undergo gender reassignment surgery, but Liu reportedly declined due to the costs.
Intersex with Both Male and Female Characteristics
People who possess both male and female reproductive organs (ovaries and testes), like Liu, are referred to as intersex.
With both ovaries and testes, intersex individuals can have both male and female biological functions. Most have female sex chromosomes (XX), though a minority may have male sex chromosomes (XY) or a combination of both. If they have separate ovaries and testes, the testes typically develop on the right side of the body and the ovaries on the left.
Intersex traits can occur during fetal development in the womb. While chromosomal abnormalities can cause these conditions, they may also result from hormonal imbalances or excesses.
These traits are usually identified at birth, though they may not be immediately apparent. As a result, some individuals may only discover their intersex condition during puberty or adulthood through medical examinations or surgeries.
Experts estimate that approximately 1.7% of the global population is born with intersex traits. While the exact causes aren’t fully understood, factors such as genetic mutations, changes in androgen receptor genes, exposure to specific hormones during embryonic development, the absence or abnormalities related to the sex-determining region Y gene (SRY), and other genetic disorders that may affect hormone levels involved in reproductive development may contribute to these conditions.
Most intersex individuals identify with their assigned gender at birth, but some do not. This distinguishes them from transgender individuals, who identify as a gender different from their assigned sex at birth. Intersex traits are not necessarily linked to specific sexual orientation.
In the past, when intersex children were born, surgeries were performed to align their genitals with the assigned gender at birth or to remove non-conforming reproductive organs. However, there is a growing argument that children should be allowed to make their own choices about surgery or treatment when they reach an age where they can understand and make decisions about their bodies.
