True hermaphroditism: from female to male endocrine status

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1985 Jul;61(1):196-9. doi: 10.1210/jcem-61-1-196.

Abstract

True hermaphroditism was revealed by monthly intrascrotal bleeding in a 21-yr-old subject of male phenotype who had undergone surgical treatment for gonadal ectopy at the age of 7 yr. The presence of an ovary was demonstrated by the endocrine profile of an ovulatory menstrual cycle. Evidence for the presence of a testis was provided by a plasma testosterone increase after hCG administration (5000 IU/day for 3 days) and its spontaneous response to an endogenous preovulatory LH peak. Further endocrine studies revealed that both gonads were stimulated by endogenous gonadotropins. At surgery, a hemiuterus and an ovary with corpus luteum were found in the left hemiscrotum, and a testis and epididymis were found in the right hemiscrotum. After removal of the ovary, the subject passed from a predominantly female to a male endocrine status, which suggests that the endocrine secretion of the testis was inhibited by the negative feedback effect of ovarian steroids on gonadotropin secretion.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Adult
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Disorders of Sex Development / pathology
  • Disorders of Sex Development / physiopathology*
  • Disorders of Sex Development / surgery
  • Estradiol / blood
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Humans
  • Karyotyping
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Male
  • Ovary / pathology
  • Ovary / physiopathology*
  • Progesterone / blood
  • Testis / pathology
  • Testis / physiopathology*
  • Testosterone / blood

Substances

  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Testosterone
  • Progesterone
  • Estradiol
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone
  • 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase