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Glite Dictionary
pseudohermaphroditism

pseudohermaphroditism

1 9.9
A person born with external genitals that do not match their internal sex organs
  • noun
  • /ˌsuːdoʊhɜːrˈmæfroʊdɪtɪzəm/
  • Offensive
: pseudohermafroditismo
  • The diagnosis of pseudohermaphroditism can be complex.

Examples

  • Understanding pseudohermaphroditism requires expertise in both endocrinology and genetics.

  • Many cases of pseudohermaphroditism are identified at birth.

  • Medical literature from the early 20th century often classified certain intersex conditions as pseudohermaphroditism.

  • The child was diagnosed with pseudohermaphroditism after doctors noticed a discrepancy between the internal and external reproductive organs.

  • In some cases of pseudohermaphroditism, individuals born with male genitalia may have female internal reproductive organs.

  • The doctor explained that pseudohermaphroditism can occur due to hormonal imbalances during fetal development.

  • Research into pseudohermaphroditism has helped improve the understanding of intersex conditions.

Surface Forms

pseudohermaphroditism singular
pseudohermaphroditisms plural

Morphology

pseudohermaphroditism = pseudohermaphrodite (semi-transparent) = pseudo + hermaphrodite + ism

The word is built from a clear "pseudo-" plus "hermaphrodite" structure, but the medical sense is specialized and not fully predictable from the parts alone.

Etymology

Pseudohermaphroditism comes from pseudo- meaning 'false' and hermaphrodite, a word for having both male and female traits. You can remember pseudo- from pseudonym ('false name'), and the term was used in medicine when a person's outer sex parts do not match the sex organs inside.