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I'm going to talk today about how #PCOS is not an #intersex condition and how those that are claiming it is have been doing continuous harm to those of us born with congenital conditions of sexual development.
We're in for a bumpy ride.
We're in for a bumpy ride.
PCOS short for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a hormonal condition that happens to human females in their child-bearing years, meaning it can happen to teenagers yes. The condition is known for having side effects that can include one to all of the following...
- Stopping one's periods.
- Acne and minor unwanted facial hair to minimal hirsutism.
- Known for raising the risks of developing conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
This condition is known for causing an increase in androgen levels.
- Acne and minor unwanted facial hair to minimal hirsutism.
- Known for raising the risks of developing conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
This condition is known for causing an increase in androgen levels.
PCOS causes hormonal imbalances in a female body, which leads to lowered progesterone and increased androgens, which causes the unwanted facial hair, change in body fat and minor hirsutism
It also can cause: darkened skin or excess skin, mood changes, pelvic pain and weight gain
It also can cause: darkened skin or excess skin, mood changes, pelvic pain and weight gain
The name is somewhat misleading though as not all female born people with PCOS have cysts on their ovaries. However no one really understands what causes PCOS, it's suspected to be hereditary. Basically if a family member has it, you've got heightened odds of getting it.
This is purely anecdotal but there are some claims of detrans women from the r/detrans community and detrans discord servers that report that they developed PCOS from taking testosterone. Take of that claim what you will.
Intersex can be defined as congenital conditions of sexual development. Or in other words a physical abnormality of the reproductive system's development. PCOS is often compared to Non-classical Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia but there's quite a few differences here.
To start with NCAH rarely affects fetal development. There are some cases that do and those would be classified as intersex for sure. PCOS does not start presenting until one has undergone puberty, meaning it is not a born physical abnormality.
There's a misconception about intersex, that intersex is any change in a cosmetic appearance from the averages of male [46 XY SRY] and Female [46 XX.] Another common misconception is people comparing the raise in testosterone to the level of virilization of some female VSCs.
For instance CAH is very unlike PCOS because the exposure of androgens happens in utero. This means that the labia can grow, gain ridges, close partially to almost fully[in most severe forms] while also relocating the urethra and vagina, sometimes even overlapping the two.
PCOS, Type 1 Diabetes, Hypogonadism, Addison's Disease, some treatments for cancer, some medications' side effects and "cross-sex hormone therapy." Are not intersex as they do not directly involve changes in utero. They do not alter the reproductive system's development.
Perhaps that is the idea but now I will include harmful takes I've seen over the past days, of people claiming "hormonally" intersex and that one can simply identify as intersex. This is what happens when you include PCOS as an "intersex condition." While defining it on hormones.
Unfortunately I can easily find more accounts of "hormonally" intersex and trans people wishing they were intersex, along with self-diagnosis cases, you'll find "being intersex" is common among furries and most the claims are completely unbelievable in more ways then one.
"Hormonally intersex" can include any number of things, perhaps that's the point. However it defeats the purpose of the medical umbrella known as intersex, a group of 40+ unique congenital conditions of sexual development. All of which effected reproductive development in utero.
Intersex conditions come in a large variance of karyotypes but notice how there's always a X. The Y is never alone and it's a combination of X and Y that always has any X chromosomes first. The Y chromosome is where the SRY gene usually is, but things can happen to this gene.
For instance it can become mutated, no longer function or even be entirely deleted. It can also be translocated onto the X chromosome creating what's known as XX male, or De La Chapelle Syndrome. However I appear to be going off-topic...
The reason PCOS is not intersex has to do with the fact that PCOS doesn't impact one in utero. It is a condition that occurs after puberty has occurred and can cause minor virilization at worst. I've heard it can even be "cured", but unsure of how trustworthy this source is.
Intersex conditions can be helped, none of which can be really be "cured." That's how our conditions work, I'd be here forever if I detailed every single health risk that can arise from each condition, so let's not. Sources already exist even if I may disagree with language.
As for the social implications? Well it gets even worse.. I hate that I'm bringing this up again but HERE WE GO!
So a lot of people anymore seem to believe sex is a spectrum like so, I'll even use one of their graphics.. a disgusting one at that.
So a lot of people anymore seem to believe sex is a spectrum like so, I'll even use one of their graphics.. a disgusting one at that.
Let's focus in closer on one of their takes. Notice the straight othering being implied here? They're basically implying there's a proper way to be female or male and a not proper way to be female or male. It implies intersex bodies are an "other." So now back to PCOS.
Note how I said earlier that PCOS causes a change in hormones, higher androgens and lower progesterone? These same people are basically insisting that not only is someone with PCOS suddenly is no longer a "proper female" which is sexist as heck.. but now they're "more male."
I believe sex is binary, I also find it to be complex and especially when factoring in medical science things get even more complicated with how easily we can alter sexual characteristics of the sexes. However it doesn't change the binary function of sex. The support of gametes.
PCOS women still can get pregnant, even if they need assistance in the process this doesn't change that their body still easily supports large gametes. Growing some facial hair and having their clitoris maybe enlarge a bit doesn't make them suddenly "more male."
They're female born people with a hormonal issue caused by PCOS, much like I'm a female born person with an intersex condition that led to me being born with vagina agenesis and clitoromegaly. Both persons in this example still have a body that supports large gametes.
In conclusion, PCOS is not #intersex and to imply it is - not only others and insults women who develop the condition by insisting they're no longer female, but it degrades and others intersex people as insisting we're some "other", "inbetween" or "validation" for some fantasy.
We aren't done yet though. I feel I need to throw in that with trans people consistently using us as an "other" actually further reinforces the old rhetoric that dates back to the 1950s.
XY Sex Reversal, XX Sex Reversal, Male Pseudo-Hermaphrodite, Female Pseudo-Hermaphrodite, Male, Female. These were all classifications that were once used on intersex people, on a spectrum much like people claim that is progressive now. Here's the two spectrums combined.
So hopefully I've convinced you that continuing to insist PCOS is intersex is not just dehumanizing to those with PCOS, but also harmful to intersex people. Why do you think our bodies were pushed into being corrected to begin with? Because we were associated as being atypical.
We were classified as neither male nor female, some inbetween that they felt they could make a proper male or female.. or just continue to other. This "progressive" spectrum crap isn't any better.
I think I made my point though hopefully. PCOS and conditions like it are not apart of the medical umbrella and should never be considered as such. It's harmful to imply that PCOS is intersex because it further tightens the idea of "proper male" and "proper female."
Christ sake people, we're in 2020. We're not supposed to be regressing to saying women can't have body hair, or large clitoris... or that men can't have long hair and a curvy body.
Stop the crap. PCOS is not intersex and by humoring this you're bringing a lot of harm to those of us with intersex conditions which I repeat.. are medical: Congenital Conditions of Sexual Development.. conditions that happen in utero and affect reproductive development.
Also I repeat; There is no such thing as HORMONALLY INTERSEX - I don't care what the trans person, or the furry tells you. Yes our conditions cause hormone differences but they are SOOOO MUCH more then that and I suggest reading up on it instead of spreading harmful ignorance.
