INTRODUCTION

Hermaphroditism is the presence in a living organism of functional reproductive organs of both male and female.

WHAT IS A HERMAPHRODITIC ANIMAL?

Diseases of reproductive development that cause physical characteristics of both sexes to coexist in the same animal are generally referred to as hermaphroditism.

There are several diseases that can cause this to occur, for example a true hermaphrodite has both testes and ovaries.

Pseudohermaphrodites can be either male or female. Male hermaphrodites have testes, but external female genitalia, and female hermaphrodites have ovaries, but external male genitalia.

There are animal species that are naturally hermaphroditic, such as snails, and change sex according to the ‘availability’ of specimens of a particular sex in their environment.

SEXUAL INVERSION SYNDROME

Sexual inversion syndrome (XX) causes them to have a genetic sex, which is different from their gonadal sex, i.e. they have testicles and external male genitalia, but are genetically female. This is the most common. Testicular feminisation syndrome (XY) causes them to have testicles along with external female genitalia. This occurs because testosterone is not converted into dihydrotestosterone, the hormone needed for masculinisation of the external genitalia.

WHAT CAN BE DONE IN THESE CASES?

After the appropriate studies (x-rays and ultrasound), an operation is carried out in which the malformed organs (male or female) are removed and the animal is castrated, thus preventing different diseases such as infections or tumours, as these organs are not fully developed and it is very common for them to cause different health problems as they are ‘foreign’.

IS HERMAPHRODITISM HEREDITARY?

Family history may play a role in the development of ambiguous genitalia, as many disorders of sexual development caused by genetic abnormalities can be inherited.

CONCLUSION

Snails, worms, worms, shrimps are just some of the hermaphroditic animals. They use these reproductive mechanisms to maintain their species but in many others such as humans, dogs or small pets this does not work in the same way, so in case of a possible case of hermaphroditism the correct treatment must be carried out to avoid health problems.