Also known as Differences of Sexual Development (DSD), “intersex” is an umbrella term for 40+ congenital (present at birth) conditions in which a baby is born with atypical sex chromosomes, atypical genitals, or, in the rarest cases, elements of both male and female reproductive tissue. By far, the most common DSDs are males with undescended testis and males with hypospadias, a condition where the two halves of the penis fuse during development so that the urethra is not located on the tip of the penis. Generations ago, untrained doctors confused hypospadias for a partially formed vulva, resulting in lingering myths about “hermaphrodites” – individuals with both male and female reproductive organs. More serious, but less common DSDs, involve disruptions to the typical genetic or hormonal processes by which males and females develop differently. These cases are ongoing medical conditions that are often accompanied by complications such as high rates of heart problems, cancer, osteoporosis, and infertility. People with these kinds of DSDs require therapeutic interventions and regular monitoring to maintain their quality of life. It’s important to note that DSDs do not represent a distinct or separate sex. Nearly all people with intersex conditions are readily identified as male or female.