Definitions of intersex

The definition of what is an intersex condition is controversial. Ambiguous genitalia occurs in roughly 0.05% of all births, and atypical genitalia occurs in 0.5% of all births, usually caused by masculinization or feminization during pregnancy, these conditions range from full androgen insensitivity syndrome, to ovotesticular syndrome although the definition of "normal" genitalia is largely arbitrary. 1.7% of people are born with a difference of sexual development (DSD consortium), such as those with Klinefelter's syndrome. The DSD was specifically made to be as inclusive to all atypical sexual development, not all conditions within the DSD effect individuals to the same extent. Most intersex activism is based around the end of unnecessary medical interventions on intersex youth which attempt to assign an arbitrary sex and gender binary often causing physical harm with no input from the child. Intersex conditions are usually expanded to include the DSD more generally. While 0.5% of all births are born with atypical genitalia only 0.05% of births are medically treated, or considered to be "truly" ambiguous generally.

The exact definition between male and female in an intersex context is largely arbitrary. Likewise the definition of biological sex is also often considered to be arbitrary as an example in extreme cases individuals with XY female (SRY inactivation) may have a uterus, ovaries, and be able to achieve pregnancy, with normal menstruation. These individuals would be declared to be biologically female, but karyotypically male. Likewise many intersex individuals are born completely sterile, although medical interventions have been known to remove potentially fertile gonads, which makes sex determination often arbitrary. Individuals with XX male develop male genitalia however, are entirely infertile due to a lack of SRY gene expression, and develop a generally feminine body. This is further expanded by conditions which effect genital development but not hormonal or sex gene expression. Generally most intersex advocates as well as parts of the medical community advocate for broadening the definitions of sexual development and the definition of intersex.