Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Blood Test – MB Clinic Visit

“I was the guy who got his period.”

Irina shares a story of her experiences. So, at the age of 22, I found out after my first HPV variant diagnosis from the doctor that I was actually an intersex person. And someone had to explain it to me. I then made my own research also. And so, every day of my life after this discovery, I was ten times happier than before because I had lived in a state of despair of the unknown.

I found out that this situation was one of about 40 known intersex variations. These include many differences including having both male and female chromosomes. And these special traits vary from person to person. And are determined by the anatomy. And so a person might have the reproductive system of one sex and the external genitalia of another.

Irina’s PCOS story is just one example.

Intersex variations do not affect a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. However, they can make it hard for someone to understand themselves. In English society, about 1.2 to 1.7% of people are intersex. Until recently, the media and public often used terms like “hermaphrodites” or “the third gender,” which many intersex people find offensive.

Ordinary People with PCOS

Human rights activists and international organizations have rejected these outdated terms. Irina says, that we are ordinary men and women. But with some differences. Still, intersex people often face extra challenges that others do not. And mainly because society is not always accepting or supportive and certainly not educated. It was not easy, everyday tasks, like getting a passport and a photo or taking part in some type of religious ceremonies, which others can smoothly handle can be very difficult and even painful.

Many other intersex people also struggle to answer the most basic question, “Who am I?”—especially if they had gender-related surgeries as children which makes them even ore mixed up. Most activists and human rights defenders support the right to physical integrity and informed consent for surgery. They believe only adults with the condition should decide their gender, not a child and not any parents or any doctors.

The operation

The UN Global Campaign against Homophobia and Transphobia also supports the rights of intersex people. Its members call for an end to non-urgent gender-related surgeries on young children. In 2019, pediatric surgeons at London Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital “Relieve” performed surgery to assign a female gender to a one-year-old child. British intersex activists criticized the doctors’ actions and said these issues should only be discussed in professional settings.

The doctors declined to speak with BBC News. Helen Mellow, deputy director of medical affairs at the hospital, explained: “We conducted a genetic examination of the child to determine his gender. The child lives in the village. He would have become an object of bullying by the time he grew up and was able to choose his gender. We chose the gender of a girl because the child’s male organ would not be functioning at that time. She has a uterus. It was a difficult ethical decision made jointly by Hormone doctors, parents, priests and geneticists.” This issue is deeply personal and complex. Three intersex women share their stories about finding self-acceptance.

Irina, in this story is 27 years old, and is an intersex activist

I want to say that I grew up feeling normal most of the time. But that however, from my point of view I was like an ordinary girl until I reached the teenage years. It was at that time that I was with my classmates who had already started puberty. And I did not get my period but they did. And I was the only girl whose breasts did not develop majorly. Also another issue was that I found that as I often watched movies with monster heroes and that I felt a strange connection to them and it made my think about my condition.

And therfore one day, when our whole class watched a film about girls going through puberty. I found it was a very painful experience. And I realised fully that I was different but I didn’t understand why I was different. And the film never mentioned intersex variations or indeed any variations at all. However, i want to say that I was fortunate enough not to be bullied at school by anyone. Most others are bullied. And if I had been, I don’t think I could have handled it at all, as things were already difficult for me just dealing with my own feelings.

A Self Discovery

In this interesting and unusual story Irina grew up like any other girl, but her intersex traits became more noticeable during her later teenage years. Her mother and grandmother were not at all concerned that she was developing differently from the other girls. And they reassured her, saying, dont worry its nothing, It’s okay, everything will be okay. Still, she didnt feel that everything was ok.

Eventually, she convinced them to take me to a local gynecologist when I was 14. At here the doctor said I needed to get my ovaries working and prescribed special hormone treatments and everyone thought it would all end up fine.

And so i decided to go to these various treatments once a week for several months. However, nothing changed. And this made me even more upset than before. Also when I was 15, my father took me to PCOS doctors in Moscow. I remember being rushed through the hallway without a chance to say hello. No one explained anything to me. They just called me into my father’s office, where he told me I would need a small operation—maybe even two.

The unknown

And once, I told my father that maybe it would be better if everything inside me was removed. I was shocked when he replied about the hormones I would need, saying, “So everything was deleted for you!” That’s how I learned my ovaries had already been removed and this grew into more complexes and self-hatred.

I had severe dizziness, and I went to a neurologist.

The doctor asked if maybe I was pregnant. She explained that I had my ovaries removed. Then, they asked me about the HPV diagnosis. I didn’t know anything. On the Internet, I found a video about intersex people and noticed that my situation resonated with their stories. I decided to pick up all my medical papers and call the test doctor in Moscow. When he called, his mother was standing next to him.

I was scared.

At 22, I learned that when I was 15, doctors had removed a testicle and non-functional tissue with ovarian elements. Since then, I have been taking hormones. Irina believes she would have suffered less if her doctors and father had explained her intersex variation to her.

Furthermore, I also found out that I have extra male chromosomes and also a uterus at the same time which is very unusual. But after this, I decided to have a serious talk with my father. And I found tout that years ago, a child psychologists advised him not to tell me about my condition. And he followed their advice. But since then, I have not been able to speak with him as we had an argument about it. My father never admitted his mistake; he should have told me the truth from the start but he didn’t.

Journey to self-acceptance after HPV

My life would have been different if I had known sooner. For several days after learning the truth, I felt lost and unsure how to move forward. But I soon accepted myself. Now, I finally had a word—intersex—to describe my experience.

Before this, I lived with constant uncertainty.

I learned as well that other people are intersex too. And that it’s actually possible to live peacefully with HPV too. I learned that you don’t have to suffer with these issues. And since then my confidence has grown a lot too.

By the way, I also now have chosen to become an activist in the field to help other children and teens avoid the same trauma I went through. I know that it takes a lot of time, but it’s worth it to help others.