Intersex babies

[Adam]

Should we operate on babies who are neither conventionally male or female? How should they be raised and when should they be told about their sexx?

[Callaway]

I think they should have a DNA test and the parents should decide what would be best for them if they are babies.

[Scrapheap]

I think they should have a DNA test and the parents should decide what would be best for them if they are babies.

That's backfired in many cases, and the kids grow up resenting their parents.

[Adam]

^ That is the problem

I dont think it's a risk that parents/doctors should take, although I know they have good intentions and can see where they are coming from.

[Osensitive1]

Bringing out the big guns, eh? Have no idea. Will think on this one, but will say surgery seems a bad idea as a first reflex.

[Adam]

I agree. Chances are you will get it wrong.

I can see why parents would be quick to want to do that thouhg, as it probably does look like a  solution and a way of giving your kid a "normal" life

not a risk worth taking tho, IMO

[Callaway]

I don't think the babies actually had DNA tests in the past, it was more often just something like the doctor telling the parents, since their genetically male baby had a micropenis, he would be better off being raised as a girl rather than as a man who would never be able to satisfy a woman or something stupid like that.  I think they even told parents their genetic son would be better off raised as a girl if the doctor screwed up their son's circumcision.

I see the other side, but parents have to make tough medical choices for their babies all the time.  If medical decisions were removed from parents' hands, then in whose hands would they be left?

[Adam]

Parents should be able to make medical choices if their kid is ill or his life is at risk, but this isn't really a medical issue. Well, it is, but not in a sense that he could die if they don't operate etc. It should be left till the kid is old enough to make a decision about who they are themselves imo

[Callaway]

Parents should be able to make medical choices if their kid is ill or his life is at risk, but this isn't really a medical issue. Well, it is, but not in a sense that he could die if they don't operate etc. It should be left till the kid is old enough to make a decision about who they are themselves imo

Would you suggest that the parents wait for their son to decide for himself once he's an adult if he has something non-life threatening like a cleft palate or cleft lip?

If not then what is so magical about him being born with something wrong with his penis?

What if the baby has something like Hypospadias?

Does he have to spend his whole childhood peeing sitting down while his parents twiddle their thumbs waiting for him to grow up so he can decide for himself?

[Adam]

And what if "he" is actually a "she"?

Fixing a cleft palate or cleft lip has no risk. Making a kid a certain sex when they're not sure which gender he will be definitely is a risk. Very different

['andersom']

If it was a baby of mine, then I would let it be what it was. Time will tell what the kid wants.
A kid comes the way it comes. And deserves love for what it is.
Healthreasons are OK for parents to decide on operating.
Gender, no, so personal, and so pervasive, not the parent's to decide.
If the outward gender is not clear, chances are that the mental gender is not clearly defined by DNA either.
And what if the DNA is not clear?
The kid may be OK with being an inbetween gender person as an adult too.

Would be good if the kids got a hormonal break at puberty, if they need more time to think on what they want to be.
Some kids will know really early though. Just like some kids know really early they have the wrong sex.
A three year old intersex kid that knows he is a he, has the right to get a penis I think.

[Eclair]

All I have to offer is that one of my children were considered very small, not on the growth chart and we were offered growth hormones after a long array of tests to see if there was a problem with my child's pituarary gland, hence restricting growth.

We had the choice to inject our child on a daily basis to obtain a 'normal' height, over time. Back then, the hormone was extracted from pigs pituatary glands. But we had a dilemma of having a very short child, or a 'normal' child if we chose synthetic hormonal injections.

We chose not to interfere. My logical basis was...well, what if that child wanted to grow up and have always wanted to be a jockey?

As it turns out, our child grew to be taller than both myself and my ex husband.

[Adam]

Healthreasons are OK for parents to decide on operating.
Gender, no, so personal, and so pervasive, not the parent's to decide.

 

Who wants to risk fucking their kid's life up any more ? 

[Adam]

not really related but this is sad... why would someone not want a dog because of that??

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11522483

[Celticgoddess]

If it was a baby of mine, then I would let it be what it was. Time will tell what the kid wants.
A kid comes the way it comes. And deserves love for what it is.
Healthreasons are OK for parents to decide on operating.
Gender, no, so personal, and so pervasive, not the parent's to decide.
If the outward gender is not clear, chances are that the mental gender is not clearly defined by DNA either.
And what if the DNA is not clear?
The kid may be OK with being an inbetween gender person as an adult too.

Would be good if the kids got a hormonal break at puberty, if they need more time to think on what they want to be.
Some kids will know really early though. Just like some kids know really early they have the wrong sex.
A three year old intersex kid that knows he is a he, has the right to get a penis I think.

on everything but not sure if I agree on the last bit. To go through the surgery at 3. That part becomes a bit murky for me. I think I would wait until the child was older.