5,000 children born in Pakistan suffer from the disorder of ambiguous genitalia every year which is a condition in which a baby’s external sexual organs are not clear. Most of the cases in villages and clinics go unreported due to which infants lose their lives or grow up in an abnormal way. Experts believe most such cases are curable by the use of modern medical technologies if detected timely.
Ambiguous genitalia is a rare disorder in which the newly-born baby’s external genitals are not clearly defined. An infant suffering from this condition may have the characteristics of both genders or the genitals may not be completely developed. There is a probability that external sex organs may not match the internal system. It is a disorder of sex development, not a disease but there are times when it is distressing for families in Pakistan. According to experts, each year 4,000 to 5,000 children are born in the country with cases of ambiguous genitals. These numbers only encompass the deliveries in the major hospitals while cases from home delivery are intentionally buried. A lot of such children lose their lives at an early age while the ones who survive go through numerous challenges and difficulties. It arises a question that despite having access to modern technologies, is the disorder still uncurable?
It is estimated that almost 70% of infants born with ambiguous genitals are girls having male hormones in their bodies due to which they appear boyish. Experts said that this condition is easily curable when diagnosed and treated at an early age. Minor surgery and medication are required to turn them into proper girls as their internal mechanism is of females. It is possible for such infants to marry and give birth to children. On the other hand, the second category constitutes babies who are actually males but whose sexual organs are not developed properly due to the dwarf production of male hormones. The 20 to 25 percent of such kids are difficult to be treated as it is challenging to reconstruct their organs through surgeries. The experts commented that children with this condition are hard to be identified and a major portion of them lose their lives due to the complications attached to the disorder.
The third category is seldom one of the children who are called intersex or hermaphrodite. These are the kids who possess the internal organs of males and females as well. Only 4 to 5 percent of kids born with ambiguous genitals born in Pakistan fall into this realm. While it is a difficult condition, genetic tests and other modern methods are used to assign gender to such infants. With proper treatment, the kids can grow up to live normal lives in society. The social premises of Pakistan does not allow such people to exercise their rights due to which other issues are created. It is the responsibility of their families to own them and nurture them in the proper way. Abandoning them is an evil leading to cultural challenges.
To conclude, it is possible for infants born with ambiguous genitals to get gender identity and live normally. The first step is to report the cases and seek medical attention. Modern technologies enable doctors to operate on them effectively and bless them with new lives acceptable to society. Hiding away and turning back to reality can only multiply the issues. Hence, most children born with ambiguous genitalia can be treated to live healthy lives.
