Intersex
Hear this word Intersex
Image description: The intersex flag
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What Is It?
Intersex is a word that describes when people are born with or develop natural differences in their sexual and reproductive body parts, their chromosomes, or their hormones.
For example, a person may be born with a vulva and testicles; a person may be born with a large clitoris that looks like a penis; or a person may notice unexpected delays or changes during puberty or adolescence due to intersex characteristics involving their hormones or chromosomes. These are just a few examples of natural differences.
Being intersex or having intersex characteristics doesn’t mean we know the person’s gender identity. Intersex characteristics are about bodies not gender.
An Example
Ray is a baby. Ray was born with natural differences in their genitals and Ray’s doctors describe these differences as intersex.
Justine learned that she has intersex characteristics as an adult. Justine has more testosterone in her body than most people with a vulva.
There are many different combinations of body parts, chromosomes, or hormones that can be described as intersex.
What to Know
Every glossary word connects to different parts of the Sexuality Wheel. Explore the information below to learn more.
- Intersex is a word used to describe a person’s body. Intersex is not a sexual orientation.
- Some people might be labeled intersex by a doctor when they are born, but many people do not learn that they are intersex until they start puberty or try to create a pregnancy.
- Approximately 2% of people are born with intersex characteristics
- To learn more about the word intersex, visit the website created by interACT - Advocates for Intersex Youth.
- Some intersex people include intersex as part of their gender identity, but many intersex people do not consider intersex to be their gender.
- A person who is intersex can have any gender identity, such as woman, non-binary, man, girl, or boy. A person who is intersex can also have any gender expression.
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What did you learn about the word intersex?
To learn more, explore websites, books, and other resources in the Resource Hub or explore other parts of Your Sexual Health Toolkit.
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