Sex reassignment: A challenging problem - current medical and islamic guidelines

The Islamic Perspectives of Gender-Related Issues in the Management of Patients With Disorders of Sex Development

In Islam, the person with somatic sex ambiguity due to a disorder of sex development (DSD), such as 46,XX congenital adrenal hyperplasia or 46,XY androgen insensitivity, is recognized as khunsa. Two types of khunsa are distinguished: wadhih (discernible) and musykil (intractable). A recent fatwa (religious edict) in Malaysia decreed that it is permissible for male-assigned patients from these two groups to have gender reassignment surgery to female following diagnosis; however, the religious authority has yet to rule on the reassignment from female to male, if requested. The different schools of law in Islam agree on some aspects of gender-related issues like the position of khunsa in prayer congregations, but differ in their opinions on others such as property inheritance and bathing rituals. For purposes of illustration, this article includes three case reports on Muslim patients with DSD in Malaysia, focusing on issues of gender assignment: (1) a patient with 46,XX CAH, assigned as female, requesting reassignment to male; (2) a patient with 46,XX CAH, assigned female, and gender dysphoric, but undecided on the gender to be; and (3) a patient with 46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesis, raised female due to her phenotype at birth, diagnosed late, at age 18 years, and content to remain female. Gender-related issues from the perspective of Islamic jurisprudence are highlighted and discussed. To ensure holistic care, health-service providers involved in the care of Muslim patients with DSDs need to be aware of the Islamic perspectives on gender-related issues and involve expert religious authorities.

Ambiguous genitalia: two decades of experience

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Ambiguous genitalia is a complex, medical and social emergency. The aim of this study is to present our experience over two decades, focusing on the pattern and clinical presentation.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A retrospective study conducted in the pediatric endocrine clinic at a university hospital Saudi Arabia during the period 1989-2008.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Medical records of children with ambiguous genitalia were reviewed and the genitalia described.

RESULTS

Of the 81 children with ambiguous genitalia, 53 (65.4%) patients were genetically females (46XX), with congenital adrenal hyperplasia being the common cause in 51 (96.5%) patients. Hyperpigmentation, variable degrees of salt wasting and a family history of a similar problem helped in diagnosis. Male genetic sex (46XY) was present in only 28 (34.6%) patients with a diversity of causes; multiple congenital anomalies in 9 (32.1%), local anorectal anomalies in 2 (7.1%), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (3-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency) in 2 (7.14%), 5-α-reductase deficiency in 4 (14.28%), partial androgen insensitivity in 3 (10.7%), complete androgen insensitivity in 4 (14.28%), and hypogonadotrophin deficiency in 4 (14.3%).Twenty-five (47.2%) of females were wrongly assigned as males, where only two (7.1%) males were wrongly assigned as females.

CONCLUSION

Ambiguous genitalia, currently termed disorders of sex development (DSD), is not uncommon in our community. Increased awareness, a detailed history, and a careful physical examination, coupled with appropriate laboratory and radiological investigations aid in early diagnosis and avoid serious sequelae.

Cytogenetics and etiology of ambiguous genitalia in 120 pediatric patients

BACKGROUND

A newborn with ambiguous genitalia needs prompt evaluation to detect life-threatening conditions (e.g., salt-losing crisis in congenital adrenal hyperplasia [CAH]) and gender assignment. Sex assignment in these children continues to be a challenging diagnostic and therapeutic problem. We studied the causes and characteristics of ambiguous genitalia in children who were referred to a cytogenetic laboratory.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed a total of 120 medical records of patients with a primary indication of ambiguous genitalia that were referred to the cytogenetic lab for karyotyping during the period of 1989 to 1999. Diagnosis was based on a clinical impression from the primary physician, who was primarily a staff pediatrician, endocrinologist and/or pediatric urologist.

RESULTS

CAH was the underlying cause of ambiguous genitalia in 41 of 63 patients with ambiguity due to endocrine causes; 39 of these patients showed a 46,XX karyotype and 2 cases were 46,XY (both the 46,XY patients had 3 beta-hydroxylase deficiency). In 57 patients, ambiguous genitalia were due to congenital developmental defects. The most common endocrine case of ambiguous genitalia was 21-OH deficiency. Seven patients were classified as idiopathic with six showing the 46,XY and one the 46,XX karyotype. Gender was reassigned at birth or at diagnosis in 15 patients.

CONCLUSION

The etiology of ambiguous genitalia is variable. The physician managing these families could minimize the trauma of having a child with unidentified sex by providing appropriate genetic counseling so that the parents can make an early decision. Prenatal DNA testing in at-risk families should be considered and appropriate therapy offered to minimize or prevent genital ambiguity.

The role of a clinical score in the assessment of ambiguous genitalia

OBJECTIVE

To improve the initial assessment of ambiguous genitalia in infants.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Using a specially devised scoring system, the external genitalia (external masculinization score, EMS, range 0-12) and internal reproductive structures (internal masculinization score, IMS, range 0-10) were assessed in 426 male newborns and 291 cases of ambiguous genitalia.

RESULTS

In normal male newborns, the median (10th centile) EMS was 11 (10). In the affected infants, the sex of rearing was male in 202 and female in 89 cases, respectively. The median (10-90th centile) EMS in those cases reared male, at 3.5 (2-8), was significantly higher than in cases reared as females, at 2 (1-6) (P < 0.001). The median IMS in cases reared as males and females was the same, at 10, but the scatter of values was higher for males (10-90th centile, 4-10) than for females (0-10) (P = 0.01). Infants reared as females were more likely to have a micropenis, a uterus and/or a urogenital sinus, but there were 12 cases where the sex of rearing was male despite the presence of a uterus; five infants without micropenis were reared as female and 23 with a urogenital sinus were reared as male.

CONCLUSION

The masculinization score provides a standardized format to summarize clinical features in newborn infants with ambiguous genitalia. Gender assignment does not solely depend on the appearance of the external genitalia and the nature of internal sexual organs.