ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Disorders of sexual development

Hello there! Do you know that everyone is different? Some people may have brown hair like you, while others may have blond or black hair. And did you know that some people may have different body parts too?

Disorders of sexual development (DSD) are conditions where a person's body doesn't develop normally in their sexual organs, which can include their genitals, hormones, and sometimes their chromosomes. Some babies may be born with mixed or ambiguous genitalia, which means they have parts that are in-between male and female.

Doctors and scientists have studied these conditions a lot, and they've discovered that there are many different kinds of DSDs. For example, some people may have a condition called Turner Syndrome, where they have only one X chromosome instead of two. Others may have a condition called Klinefelter Syndrome, where they have an extra X chromosome.

When babies are born with DSD, it's important to have doctors who specialize in this area to help them and their families. These doctors can do tests to figure out what's going on, and they can give the baby and their family information and support.

Everyone is unique, and DSD is just one way that people can be different. It's important to treat everyone with kindness and respect, no matter what their body looks like.