Sexual differentiation and development

Y. L. Giwercman, A. Nordenskjöld

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Normal sexual differentiation requires complex molecular events to take place in a precise order, and even though much knowledge has been gained in recent decades, further research is still needed to understand the pathogenesis of different disorders of sexual differentiation. For the clinician who is confronted with a child with sexual ambiguity, it is most important not to guess the sex but to initiate a proper diagnostic procedure, preferably done by a specialist team. Diagnosis generally requires a thorough clinical examination of the child and careful family history taking. The further diagnostic procedure includes cytogenetic hormonal and mutational analyses before sex assignment. Advances in molecular genetics are continuously providing tools for the detection of genetic defects and the primary diagnosis of intersex disorders. These methods may also be applied to prenatal diagnosis and carrier identification.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAndrology for the Clinician
EditorsWolf-Bernhard Schill, Frank H Comhaire, Timothy B Hargreave
PublisherSpringer
Pages266-272
ISBN (Print)3540231714, 9783540231714
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006 Dec 1

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Physiology

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