Clinical Manifestation and Cytogenetic Analysis of True Hermaphroditism

In this report, 10 cases of true hermaphroditism with histological confirmation of existence of both ovarian and testicular tissues were described. Five cases showed an ovary on one side and ovotestis on the other and the rest five cases an ovary on one side and a testis on the other. The karyotype was 46, XX in 8 cases and 46, XY and 45, XO/46, XY in the other two cases. 7 cases with a 46, XX karyotype were followed for 3 to 20 years after operation. Five patients reconstructed as females showed normal female phenotype, 3 of them being married and 1 of them giving birth to a normal girl. The other two patients were reconstructed as males, showing female characteristics and hypogenadism. They were psychosocially ill and could not get married.On the basis of our long term obervations, we recommend that patients with true hermaphroditism, especially those which a 46, XX karyotype, be reconstructed as females