Consensus statement on management of intersex disorders

doi:10.1136/adc.2006.098319

Arch Dis Child. 2006 July; 91(7): 554–563.

Published online 2006 April 19. doi: 10.1136/adc.2006.098319

PMCID: PMC2082839

Consensus statement on management of intersex disorders

I A Hughes, C Houk, S F Ahmed, P A Lee, and LWPES1/ESPE2 Consensus Group

Correspondence to: Professor Ieuan A Hughes
Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Box 116, Level 8, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK; iah1000@cam.ac.uk

Accepted March 31, 2006.

This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.

Short abstract

Management of intersex disorders

Keywords: sex development disorders, gonads, intersex

The birth of an intersex child prompts a long term management strategy that involves a myriad of professionals working with the family. It is estimated that genital anomalies occur in 1 in 4500 births. There has been progress in diagnosis, surgical techniques, understanding psychosocial issues, and recognising and accepting the place of patient advocacy. The Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society (LWPES) and the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) considered it timely to review the management of intersex disorders from a broad perspective, to review data on longer term outcome, and to formulate proposals for future studies. The methodology comprised establishing several working groups whose membership was drawn from 50 international experts in the field. The groups prepared prior written responses to a defined set of questions resulting from an evidence based review of published reports. At a subsequent gathering of participants, a framework for a consensus document was agreed. This paper constitutes its final form.

Advances in identification of molecular genetic causes of abnormal sex with heightened awareness of ethical issues and patient advocacy concerns necessitate a re‐examination of nomenclature.¹ Terms such as intersex, pseudohermaphroditism, hermaphroditism, sex reversal, and gender based diagnostic labels are particularly controversial. These terms are perceived as potentially pejorative by patients,² and can be confusing to practitioners and parents alike. The term “disorders of sex development” (DSD) is proposed, as defined by congenital conditions in which development of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex is atypical.

The proposed changes in terminology are summarised in table 11.. A modern lexicon is needed to integrate progress in molecular genetic aspects of sex development. As outcome data in individuals with DSD are limited, it is essential to employ precision when applying definitions and diagnostic labels.³^,4 It is also appropriate to use terminology that is sensitive to the concerns of patients. The ideal nomenclature should be sufficiently flexible to incorporate new information yet robust enough to maintain a consistent framework. Terms should be descriptive and reflect genetic aetiology when available, and accommodate the spectrum of phenotypical variation. Clinicians and scientists must value its use and it must be understandable to patients and their families. An example of how the proposed nomenclature could be applied in a classification of DSD is shown in table 22.

Table 1

Proposed revised nomenclature

Table 2

An example of a DSD classification

Psychosexual development is traditionally conceptualised as three components. Gender identity refers to a person's self representation as male or female (with the caveat that some individuals may not identify exclusively with either). Gender role (sex‐typical behaviours) describes the psychological characteristics that are sexually dimorphic within the general population, such as toy preferences and physical aggression. Sexual orientation refers to the direction(s) of erotic interest (heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual) and includes behaviour, fantasies, and attractions. Psychosexual development is influenced by multiple factors such as exposure to androgens, sex chromosome genes, and brain structure, as well as social circumstance and family dynamics.

Gender dissatisfaction denotes unhappiness with assigned sex. Causes of gender dissatisfaction are poorly understood, even among individuals without DSD. Gender dissatisfaction occurs more frequently in individuals with DSD than in the general population, but is difficult to predict from karyotype, prenatal androgen exposure, degree of genital virilisation, or assigned gender.⁵^,6^,7 Prenatal androgen exposure is clearly associated with other aspects of psychosexual development.⁸^,9 There are dose related effects on childhood play behaviour in girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), whereby those with the more severe mutations and marked genital virilisation play more with boys' toys.¹⁰ Prenatal androgen exposure is also associated with other psychological characteristics such as maternal interest and sexual orientation. It is important to emphasise the separability of sex‐typical behaviour, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Thus homosexual orientation (relative to sex of rearing) or strong cross‐sex interest in an individual with DSD is not an indication of incorrect gender assignment. Understanding variations in psychosexual development in individuals with DSD requires reference to studies in non‐human species that show marked but complex effects of androgens on sex differentiation of the brain and on behaviour. Outcomes can be influenced by timing, dose, and type of androgen exposure, receptor availability, and modification by the social environment.¹¹^,12^,13^,14

Data from rodent studies suggest that sex chromosome genes may also influence brain structure and behaviour directly.¹⁵^,16 However, studies in individuals with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) do not indicate a behavioural role for Y chromosome genes, although data are limited.¹⁷ Sex differences in brain structures have been identified across species, some of which coincide with pubertal onset, perhaps suggesting hormonal responsivity.¹⁸^,19^,20 The limbic system and hypothalamus, both playing a role in reproduction, show sex differences in specific nuclei but it is not clear when these differences emerge. Interpretation of sex differences is complicated by the effect of cell death and synaptic pruning on normal maturation and by effects of experience on the brain. Structure of the brain is not currently useful for gender assignment.

Investigation and management of DSD

General concepts of care

Optimal clinical management of individuals with DSD²¹ should comprise the following:

gender assignment must be avoided before expert evaluation in newborns;
evaluation and long term management must be carried out at a centre with an experienced multidisciplinary team;
all individuals should receive a gender assignment;
open communication with patients and families is essential and participation in decision making is encouraged;
patient and family concerns should be respected and addressed in strict confidence.

The initial contact with the parents of a child with a DSD is important, as first impressions from these encounters often persist. A key point to emphasise is that the DSD child has the potential to become a well adjusted, functional member of society. While privacy needs to be respected, DSD is not shameful. It should be explained to the parents that the best course of action may not initially be clear, but the health care team will work with the family to reach the best possible set of decisions in the circumstances. The health care team should discuss with the parents what information to share in the early stages with family members and friends. Parents need to be informed about sexual development, and web based information may be helpful, provided the content and focus of the information is balanced and sound (http://www.sickkids.ca/childphysiology/cpwp/genital/genitalintro.html).

Ample time and opportunity should be made for continued discussion with review of information previously provided.¹

The multidisciplinary team

Optimal care for children with DSD requires an experienced multidisciplinary team which is generally found in tertiary care centres. Ideally, the team includes paediatric subspecialists in endocrinology, surgery or urology or both, psychology/psychiatry, gynaecology, genetics, neonatology, and, if available, social work, nursing, and medical ethics.²² Core composition will vary according to DSD type, local resources, developmental context, and location. Ongoing communication with the family primary care physician is essential.²³

The team has a responsibility to educate other health care staff in the appropriate initial management of affected newborn infants and their families. For new DSD patients, the team should develop a plan for clinical management with respect to diagnosis, gender assignment, and treatment options before making any recommendations. Ideally, discussions with the family are conducted by one professional with appropriate communication skills.²⁴ Transitional care should be organised with the multidisciplinary team operating in an environment comprising specialists with experience in both paediatric and adult practice. Support groups have an important role in the delivery of care to DSD patients and their families²⁵ (see appendix 1).

Clinical evaluation

A family and prenatal history, a general physical examination with attention to any associated dysmorphic features, and an assessment of the genital anatomy in comparison with published norms needs to be recorded (table 33).). Criteria that suggest DSD include:

Table 3

Anthropometric measurements of the external genitalia

overt genital ambiguity (for example, cloacal exstrophy);
apparent female genitalia with an enlarged clitoris, posterior labial fusion, or an inguinal/labial mass;
apparent male genitalia with bilateral undescended testes, micropenis, isolated perineal hypospadias, or mild hypospadias with undescended testis;
a family history of DSD such as CAIS;
a discordance between genital appearance and a prenatal karyotype.

Most causes of DSD are recognised in the neonatal period; later presentations in older children and young adults include: previously unrecognised genital ambiguity; inguinal hernia in a girl; delayed or incomplete puberty; virilisation in a girl; primary amenorrhoea; breast development in a boy; and gross and occasionally cyclical haematuria in a boy.

Diagnostic evaluation

Considerable progress has been made over understanding the genetic basis of human sexual development,³⁵ yet a specific molecular diagnosis is identified in only about 20% of cases of DSD. The majority of virilised 46,XX infants will have CAH. In contrast, only 50% of 46,XY children with DSD will receive a definitive diagnosis.³⁶^,37 Diagnostic algorithms do exist, but with the spectrum of findings and diagnoses, no single evaluation protocol can be recommended in all circumstances. Some tests, such as imaging by ultrasound, are operator dependent. Hormone measurements need to be interpreted in relation to the specific assay characteristics and to normal values for gestational and chronological age. In some cases serial measurements may be needed.

First line testing in newborns includes: karyotyping with X and Y specific probe detection (even when prenatal karyotype is available), imaging (abdomino‐pelvic ultrasound), measurement of 17‐hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, gonadotropins, anti‐mullerian hormone, serum electrolytes, and urinanalysis. The results of these investigations are generally available within 48 hours and will be sufficient for making a working diagnosis. Decision making algorithms are available to guide further investigation.³⁸ These include hCG and ACTH stimulation tests to assess testicular and adrenal steroid biosynthesis, urinary steroid analysis by GC mass spectroscopy, imaging studies, and biopsies of gonadal material. Some gene analyses are carried out in clinical service laboratories. However, current molecular diagnosis is limited by cost, accessibility, and quality control.³⁹ Research laboratories provide genetic testing, including functional analysis, but may face restrictions on communicating results.⁴⁰

Gender assignment in newborn infants

Initial gender uncertainty is unsettling and stressful for families. Expediting a thorough assessment and decision is required. Factors that influence gender assignment include the diagnosis, genital appearance, surgical options, need for life long replacement therapy, the potential for fertility, views of the family, and sometimes the circumstances relating to cultural practices. More than 90% of 46,XX CAH patients⁴¹ and all 46,XY CAIS assigned females in infancy⁴² identify as females. Evidence supports the current recommendation to raise markedly virilised 46,XX infants with CAH as female.⁴³ Approximately 60% of 5α‐reductase (5αRD2) deficient patients assigned female in infancy and virilising at puberty (and all assigned male) live as males.⁵ In 5αRD2 and possibly 17β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17βHSD3) deficiencies, where the diagnosis is made in infancy, the combination of a male gender identity in the majority and the potential for fertility (documented in 5αRD2, but unknown in 17βHSD3) should be discussed when providing evidence for gender assignment.⁵^,44^,45 Among patients with PAIS, androgen biosynthetic defects, and incomplete gonadal dysgenesis, there is dissatisfaction with the sex of rearing in about 25% of individuals, whether raised male or female.⁴⁶ Available data support male rearing in all patients with micropenis, taking into account equal satisfaction with assigned gender in those raised male or female, but no need for surgery, and the potential for fertility in patients reared male.⁴² The decision on sex of rearing in ovotesticular DSD should consider the potential for fertility based on gonadal differentiation and genital development, and assuming the genitalia are, or can be made, consistent with the chosen sex. In the case of mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MGD), factors to consider include prenatal androgen exposure, testicular function at and after puberty, phallic development, and gonadal location. Individuals with cloacal exstrophy reared female show variability in gender identity outcome, but more than 65% appear to live as female.⁶

Surgical management

The surgeon has a responsibility to outline the surgical sequence and subsequent consequences from infancy to adulthood. Only surgeons with expertise in the care of children and specific training in the surgery of DSD should undertake these procedures. Parents now appear to be less inclined to choose surgery for less severe clitoromegaly.⁴⁷ Surgery should only be considered in cases of severe virilisation (Prader III, IV, and V) and should be carried out in conjunction, when appropriate, with repair of the common urogenital sinus. As orgasmic function and erectile sensation may be disturbed by clitoral surgery, the surgical procedure should be anatomically based to preserve erectile function and the innervation of the clitoris. Emphasis is on functional outcome rather than a strictly cosmetic appearance. It is generally felt that surgery that is carried out for cosmetic reasons in the first year of life relieves parental distress and improves attachment between the child and the parents.⁴⁸^,49^,50^,51 The systematic evidence for this belief is lacking.

There is inadequate evidence currently in relation to establishment of functional anatomy, to abandon the practice of early separation of the vagina and urethra.⁵² The rationale for early reconstruction is based on guidelines on the timing of genital surgery from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP),⁵³ the beneficial effects of oestrogen on tissue in early infancy, and the avoidance of potential complications from the connection between the urinary tract and peritoneum through the Fallopian tubes. It is anticipated that surgical reconstruction in infancy will need to be refined at the time of puberty.⁵⁴^,55^,56 Vaginal dilatation should not be undertaken before puberty. The surgeon must be familiar with several operative techniques in order to reconstruct the spectrum of urogenital sinus disorders. An absent or inadequate vagina (with rare exceptions) requires a vaginoplasty performed in adolescence when the patient is psychologically motivated and a full partner in the procedure. No one technique has been universally successful; self dilatation, skin substitution, and bowel vaginoplasty each have specific advantages and disadvantages.

In the case of a DSD associated with hypospadias,⁵⁷ standard techniques for surgical repair such as chordee correction, urethral reconstruction, and the judicious use of testosterone supplementation apply. The magnitude and complexity of phalloplasty in adulthood should be taken into account during the initial counselling period if successful gender assignment is dependent on this procedure.⁵⁸ At times this may affect the balance of gender assignment. Patients must not be given unrealistic expectations about penile reconstruction, including the use of tissue engineering. There is no evidence that prophylactic removal of asymptomatic discordant structures, such as a utriculus or mullerian remnants, is required although symptoms in future may indicate surgical removal. For the male who has a successful neophalloplasty in adulthood, an erectile prosthesis may be inserted but has a high morbidity.

The testes in patients with CAIS³⁵ and those with PAIS, raised female, should be removed to prevent malignancy in adulthood. The availability of oestrogen replacement therapy allows for the option of early removal at the time of diagnosis which also takes care of the associated hernia, psychological problems with the presence of testes, and the malignancy risk. Parental choice allows deferment until adolescence, recognising that the earliest reported malignancy in CAIS is at 14 years of age.⁵⁹ The streak gonad in a patient with MGD raised male should be removed laparoscopically (or by laparotomy) in early childhood.³⁵ Bilateral gonadectomy is performed in early childhood in females (bilateral streak gonads) with gonadal dysgenesis and Y chromosome material. In patients with androgen biosynthetic defects raised female, gonadectomy should be undertaken before puberty. A scrotal testis in patients with gonadal dysgenesis is at risk for malignancy. Current recommendations are testicular biopsy at puberty seeking signs of the premalignant lesion termed carcinoma in situ or undifferentiated intratubular germ cell neoplasia. If positive, the option is sperm banking before treatment with local low dose radiotherapy which is curative.⁶⁰

Surgical management in DSD should also consider options that will facilitate the chances of fertility. In patients with a symptomatic utriculus, removal is best undertaken laparoscopically to increase the chance of preserving continuity of the vasa deferentia. Patients with bilateral ovotestes are potentially fertile from functional ovarian tissue.³⁵^,61 Separation of ovarian and testicular tissue can be technically difficult and should be undertaken, if possible, in early life.

Sex steroid replacement

Hypogonadism is common in patients with dysgenetic gonads, defects in sex steroid biosynthesis, and resistance to androgens. The timing of initiation of puberty may vary but this is an occasion that provides an opportunity to discuss the condition and set a foundation for long term adherence to treatment. Hormonal induction of puberty should attempt to replicate normal pubertal maturation to induce secondary sexual characteristics, a pubertal growth spurt, and optimal bone mineral accumulation, together with psychosocial support for psychosexual maturation.⁶² Intramuscular depot injections of testosterone esters are commonly used in males; other options include oral testosterone undecanoate, and transdermal preparations are also available.⁶³^,64^,65 Patients with PAIS may require supraphysiological doses of testosterone for optimal effect.⁶⁶ Females with hypogonadism require oestrogen supplementation to induce pubertal changes and menses. A progestin is usually added after breakthrough bleeding develops or within one to two years of continuous oestrogen. There is no evidence that the addition of cyclic progesterone is beneficial in women without a uterus.

Psychosocial management

Psychosocial care provided by mental health staff with expertise in DSD should be an integral part of management in order to promote positive adaptation. This expertise can facilitate team decisions about gender assignment/reassignment, timing of surgery, and sex hormone replacement. Psychosocial screening tools that identify families at risk for maladaptive coping with a child's medical condition are available.⁶⁷ Once the child is sufficiently developed for a psychological assessment of gender identity, such an evaluation must be included in discussions about gender reassignment. Gender identity development begins before the age of 3 years,⁶⁸ but the earliest age at which it can be reliably assessed remains unclear. The generalisation that the age of 18 months is the upper limit of imposed gender reassignment should be treated with caution and viewed conservatively. Atypical gender role behaviour is more common in children with DSD than in the general population but should not be taken as an indicator for gender reassignment. In affected children and adolescents who report significant gender dysphoria, a comprehensive psychological evaluation⁶⁹ and an opportunity to explore feelings about gender with a qualified clinician is required over a period of time. If the desire to change gender persists, the patient's wish should be supported and may require the input of a specialist skilled in the management of gender change.

The process of disclosure concerning facts about karyotype, gonadal status, and prospects for future fertility is a collaborative ongoing action which requires a flexible individual based approach. It should be planned with the parents from the time of diagnosis.⁷⁰ Studies in other chronic medical disorders and of adoptees indicate that disclosure is associated with enhanced psychosocial adaptation.⁷¹ Medical education and counselling for children is a recurrent gradual process of increasing sophistication which is commensurate with changing cognitive and psychological development.⁷²

Quality of life encompasses falling in love, dating, attraction, ability to develop intimate relationships, sexual functioning, and the opportunity to marry and to raise children, regardless of biological indicators of sex. The most frequent problems encountered in DSD patients are sexual aversion and lack of arousability, which are often misinterpreted as low libido.⁷³ Health care staff should offer adolescent patients opportunities to talk confidentially without their parents and encourage the participation in condition specific support groups which enhance the ability of the patient to discuss their concerns comfortably. Some patients avoid intimate relationships and it is important to address fears of rejection and advise on the process of building a relationship with a partner. The focus should be on interpersonal relationships and not solely on sexual function and activity. Referral for sex therapy may be needed. Repeated examination of the genitalia, including medical photography, may be experienced as deeply shaming.⁷⁴ Medical photography has its place for record keeping and education, but should be undertaken whenever possible if the patient is under anaesthesia for a procedure and with appropriate consent. Medical interventions and negative sexual experiences may have fostered symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder and referral to a qualified mental health professional may be indicated.⁷⁵

Outcome in DSD

As a general statement, information across a range of assessments is insufficient in DSD. The following is based on those disorders where some evidence base is available. They include CAH, CAIS and PAIS, disorders of androgen biosynthesis, gonadal dysgenesis syndromes (complete and partial), and micropenis. Long term outcome in DSD should include the following: external and internal genital phenotype, physical health including fertility, sexual function, social and psychosexual adjustment, mental health, quality of life, and social participation. There are additional health problems in individuals with DSD. These include the consequences of associated problems such as other malformations, developmental delay and intellectual impairment, delayed growth and development, and unwanted effects of hormones on libido and body image.⁷⁶

Surgical outcome

Some studies suggest satisfactory outcomes from early surgery.⁴³^,46^,47^,77 Nevertheless, outcomes from clitoroplasty identify problems related to decreased sexual sensitivity, loss of clitoral tissue, and cosmetic issues.⁷⁸ Techniques for vaginoplasty carry the potential for scarring at the introitus, necessitating repeated modification before sexual function can be reliable. Surgery to construct a neo‐vagina carries a risk of neoplasia.⁷⁹ The risks from vaginoplasty are different for high and low confluence of the urethra and vagina. Analysis of long term outcomes is complicated by a mixture of surgical techniques and diagnostic categories.⁸⁰ Few women with CAIS need surgery to lengthen the vagina.⁸¹

The outcome in undermasculinised males with a phallus is dependent on the degree of hypospadias and the amount of erectile tissue. Feminising as opposed to masculinising genitoplasty requires less surgery to achieve an acceptable outcome and results in fewer urological difficulties.⁴⁶ Long term data on sexual function and quality of life among those assigned female as well as male show great variability. There are no controlled clinical trials of the efficacy of early (less than 12 months of age) versus late surgery (in adolescence and adulthood), or of the efficacy of different techniques.

Risk of gonadal tumours

Interpretation of published reports is hampered by unclear terminology and by effects of normal cell maturation delay.⁸²^,83^,84 The highest tumour risk is found in TSPY (testis‐specific protein Y encoded) positive gonadal dysgenesis and PAIS with intra‐abdominal gonads, while the lowest risk (<5%) is found in ovotestis⁸⁵ and CAIS.⁸³^,86 Table 44 provides a summary of the risk of tumour development according to diagnosis and recommendations for management.

Table 4

Risk of germ cell malignancy according to diagnosis

Cultural and social factors

DSD may carry a stigma. Social and cultural factors, as well as hormonal effects, appear to influence gender role in 5α‐reductase deficiency. Gender role change occurs at different rates in different societies, suggesting that social factors may also be important modifiers of gender role change.

In some societies, female infertility precludes marriage, which also affects employment prospects and creates economic dependence. Religious and philosophical views may influence how parents respond to the birth of an infant with a medical condition. Fatalism and guilt feelings in relation to congenital malformations or genetic conditions have an influence, while poverty and illiteracy negatively affect access to health care.⁸⁷

Future studies

Establishing a precise diagnosis in DSD is just as important as in other chronic medical conditions with lifelong consequences. Considerable progress has been achieved with molecular studies, as illustrated in intablestables 5 and 66,, which summarise the genes known to be involved in DSD. Use of tissue specific animal knock out models, comparative genomic hybridisation, and microarray screens of the mouse urogenital ridge will provide benefits in identifying new genes causing DSD.⁸⁹ It is essential that the momentum for an international collaborative approach to this task is maintained.

Table 5

Genes known to be involved in disorders of sex development: 46,XY

Table 6

Genes known to be involved in disorders of sex development: 46,XX

Much remains to be clarified about the determinants of gender identity in DSD. Future studies require representative sampling to carefully conceptualise and measure gender identity, recognising that there are multiple determinants to consider and gender identity may change into adulthood. In terms of psychological management, studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of information management with regard to timing and content. The pattern of surgical practice in DSD is changing with respect to the timing of surgery and the techniques employed. It is essential to evaluate the effects of early versus later surgery in an holistic manner, recognising the difficulties posed by an ever evolving clinical practice.

The consensus has clearly identified a major shortfall in information about long term outcome. Future studies should use appropriate instruments that assess outcomes in a standard manner⁶⁸^,69 and take cognisance of guidelines relevant to all chronic conditions (http://www.who.int/classifications/icf/en/). These should preferably be prospective in nature and designed to avoid selection bias. Several countries already have registers of DSD cases but there could be added benefit from pooling such resources to enable prospective multicentre studies to be undertaken on a larger number of cases that are clearly defined. Allied to this should be an educational programme to ensure that professionals tasked with providing care for DSD families are suitably trained to discharge their responsibilities.

Acknowledgements

The LWPES and ESPE gratefully acknowledge unrestricted educational grant support for the consensus meeting from Pfizer Endocrine Care, Novo Nordisk, Ferring, and Organon. The work of Alan Rogol, Joanne Rogol, Pauline Bertrand, and Pam Stockham in organising the meeting is gratefully appreciated.

Consensus Group

The following participants contributed to the production of the Consensus document: John Achermann (London, UK), Faisal Ahmed (Glasgow, UK), Laurence Baskin (San Francisco, USA), Sheri Berenbaum (University Park, USA), Sylvano Bertelloni (Pisa, Italy), John Brock (Nashville, USA), Polly Carmichael (London, UK), Cheryl Chase (Rohnert Park, USA), Peggy Cohen‐Kettenis (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Felix Conte (San Francisco, USA), Patricia Donohoue (Iowa City, USA), Chris Driver (Aberdeen, UK), Stenvert Drop (Rotterdam, Netherlands), Erica Eugster (Indianapolis, USA), Kenji Fujieda (Asahikawa, Japan), Jay Giedd (Bethesda, USA), Richard Green (London, UK), Melvin Grumbach (San Francisco, USA), Vincent Harley (Victoria, Australia), Melissa Hines (London, UK), Olaf Hiort (Lübeck, Germany), Ieuan Hughes (Cambridge, UK), Peter Lee (Hershey, USA), Leendert Looijenga (Rotterdam, Netherlands), Berenice Mendonça (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Heino Meyer‐Bahlburg (New York, USA), Claude Migeon (Baltimore, USA), Yves Morel (Lyon, France), Pierre Mouriquand (Lyon, France), Anna Nordenström (Stockholm, Sweden), Phillip Ransley (London, UK), Robert Rapaport (New York, USA), William Reiner (Oklahoma City, USA), Hertha Richter‐Appelt (Hamburg, Germany), Richard Rink (Indianapolis, USA), Emilie Rissman (Charlottesville, USA), Paul Saenger (New York, USA), David Sandberg (Buffalo, USA), Justine Schober (Erie, USA), Norman Spack (Boston, USA), Barbara Thomas (Rottenburg am Neckar, Germany), Ute Thyen (Lübeck, Germany), Eric Vilain (Los Angeles, USA), Garry Warne (Melbourne, Australia), Amy Wisniewski (Des Moines, USA), Jean Wilson (Dallas, USA), Christopher Woodhouse (London, UK), Kenneth Zucker (Toronto, Canada).

Abbreviations

CAH - congenital adrenal hyperplasia

CAIS - complete androgen insensitivity syndrome

DSD - disorders of sex development

ESPE - European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology

LWPES - Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society

MGD - mixed gonadal dysgenesis

PAIS - partial androgen insensitivity syndrome

Appendix 1

ROLE OF SUPPORT GROUPS

The value of peer and parent support for many chronic medical conditions is widely accepted, and DSDs, being lifelong conditions which affect developmental tasks at many stages of life, are no exception.

Those affected by DSDs and parent members value the following:

Peer support ends isolation and stigma, providing a context in which conditions are put into perspective, and where intimate issues of concern can be discussed safely with someone who has “been there.”
Children who form relationships with peers and affected adults early in their lives benefit from a feeling of normalcy early on, with support in place well before adolescence. Adolescents often resist attempts to introduce them to peer support.
Support groups can help families and consumers find the best quality care.

While clinical practice may focus on gender and genital appearance as key outcomes, stigma and experiences associated with having a DSD (both within and outside the medical environment) are more salient issues for many affected people.

Support groups complement the work of the health care team and, together, can help improve services. Initiatives by support groups have led to improvements in management of DSD and research directed towards clinically relevant issues. Dialogue between health care professionals and support groups, and collaboration as partners is to be encouraged.

APPENDIX 2

LEGAL ISSUES

Basic principles of medical law will remain, even as research and clinical experience evolve in aetiology, diagnosis, and treatment. This appendix draws on practice in three countries on standards of medical negligence and patient informed consent. In the USA, the medical profession sets standards of care based on prevailing medical custom.⁹⁰ However, a treatment may also be that used by a respected minority of practitioners.

USA

Informed consent in the USA was founded on the principle of battery, whereby it is an offence to violate another person's bodily integrity without consent. Nowadays, most states are concerned with negligent non‐disclosure to the patient. The standard of adequate disclosure may be physician based, requiring conduct of a reasonable practitioner, or it may be patient based, asking what a reasonable patient would find material. Physician based disclosure must include information about risks, alternatives, outcomes, and prognosis, with or without treatment.

US courts assume that parents know what is best for their child when parental authority applies to consent for the child (substituted judgement). Parental decisions are deferred to except in situations where potentially life saving treatment is withheld. Consent to treatment by a child is dependent on an understanding of its nature and consequences.

United Kingdom

Medical negligence in the United Kingdom defines treatment that falls below the standard expected of a reasonably competent practitioner. The standard of proof in court is whether negligence is demonstrated on the balance of probabilities. It is incumbent on the practitioner to demonstrate that treatment was consistent with a rationally defensible body of medical opinion. A shift in parental prerogative to consent to treatment was reflected in the Children Act 1989, in which parental rights were replaced by parental responsibilities.⁹¹ UK courts can intervene with orders made requiring or preventing a specific action related to the child. Age is not a barrier to informed consent, providing that a minor demonstrates an understanding of the issues sufficient to have the capacity to consent.

Colombia

Colombian law is noted for a reasoned set of guidelines advanced by the highest court in cases of DSD.⁹² A protocol was formulated for parental and physician intervention. The process of consent requires “qualified and persistent informed consent” over an extended period of time. Authorisation is given in stages to allow time for the parents to come to terms with their child's condition. The court aimed to strike a balance between parental autonomy for those who did and those who did not want early surgery for their child, until there was clear evidence of harm in deferring surgery until the child was competent to decide. Parents cannot consent for children over 5 years of age, as by then children are deemed to have identified with a gender and so are considered to be autonomous.

Footnotes

Competing interests: none declared

¹Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society

²European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology

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