Expect the Expected.

Generally, I find that people blush like I had given them too much information when I tell them that I am born in-between. In this world, people would congratulate you when you tell them how proud you are to be a man, a woman, gay/lesbian, transgendered/transexual.

However, society norms seem to feel uncomfortable about being told that someonebeing  born in-between. My paranoia would picture in my mind the questions that spontaneously pop up in the minds of people receiving this information -

"What do you mean in-between? Oh, I'm sorry that certain unique identifying parts of you do not match up with the rest of the population. Yucks, yucks, there is too much information .. No we can't embarrass you any further, you poor thing. We'll help you keep quiet about it."

Why can gays say they are gay and not get a hush-hush response? What is wrong with me that I get hush-hush responses from people. I don't need your pity. I just need you to assure me that

"Good, we are proud of your being a healthy addition to the diverse mutation of the human species. We are proud to talk about your gender identity openly just like we would talk openly about the identity of men, women and gays."

Reply from 23&me

Reply from 23&me to my inquiry made at the comment section. My inquiry and the response is not currently found in the comment section.

Hello Cynthia,
Your request (#87806) has been updated. You can view the update below.

---

Charles, Jun 24 03:17 pm (PDT):
 
Hello Cynthia,

Thank you for your interest in 23andMe. 23andMe continuously reviews the literature for new genetic associations and keeps existing customers up to date on new findings. Unfortunately, at this time Androgen Resistance and Insensitivity is not a topic addressed by our Health reports. We cannot predict which topics will be covered in the future, but will make additional information available to our customers as long as the SNPs related to the genetic associations for the traits and conditions in question are included on the DNA chip used to process your saliva sample. Under these circumstances our existing customers will not need to undergo additional testing or need to provide new saliva samples.

Our analysis technology generally cannot detect intersex conditions. There are rare instances when our quality control processes reveal abnormal sex chromosome conditions, but again, the technology isn't designed to detect all instances. If you are interested in determining if you have any chromosomal abnormalities, please contact a physician to request a karyotype analysis.

While many of our current and planned Health articles deal with medical issues, it is important to remember that the feature is neither a diagnostic tool nor a substitute for a physician's advice. To view a complete list of the diseases and conditions analyzed by the 23andMe service, visit the following link. This list grows every month as new research is published. https://www.23andme.com/health/all/

One final thought--the desire to understand the cause or origin of your condition is in no way narcissistic. Wondering how/why your body was created does not need to be justified or explained to anyone, whether it helps you in therapy or not. I encourage you not to feel ridiculous, embarrassed, or insecure about wanting a genetic analysis done.

Best Regards,
The 23andMe Team

Expect the unexpected: I am born gay

I received a couple of emails from 23&me, telling me to expect the unexpected, which linked to their article.

I wrote this in the comments of the article. It is currently under moderation. Perhaps, they did not expect the unexpected.

I think people are comfortable talking about men being men, women being women, gays, lesbians or transgendered. But people are mostly uncomfortable knowing that people like me exists.

Cynthia says:

June 23, 2013 at 10:19 am

Your comment is awaiting moderation.

I wish to know if the genetic test would help discover intersex/hermaphroditic conditions.

The issue I face is I have completely normal male phenotype. But androgen resistance and insensitivity has from an early age feminised both my mental state and appearance. I never actually have gone thro puberty. I have the voice of a woman. My body produces more prolactin than normal women. I had scant facial hair and unnoticeable body hair compared to my hairy siblings and dad. As a result I have to go on estrogen therapy to treat my osteoporosis, which I am about to begin.

MRI reveals no pituitary abnormalities. My condidition must either be so unique or so rare that no doctors could explain what is going on. With no previous encounter of such a condition, they are at loss to whether classify me as androgen insensitive, resistant or if I could officially be classified as hermaphroditic. Therefore, legally speaking, without a hermaphroditic classification, I am living medical proof of someone can be born gay.

A couple of doctors have advised me to get a genetic scan. I hadn’t because 12 years ago it would cost thousand$. 12 years of fosamax, etc did not help much. I do not know what you could find out or if you have the expertise to discover the genetic path of my condition. If you don’t, do I bring the scan to someone. Who would that someone be?

I mean, the question is, am I narcissitic in trying find out what my condition is – as knowing would probably not help me any further than knowing my current need to have estrogen therapy. Why do I need to know? But I still wish to know – I just doubt there is any expertise out there with the free time and motivation to help me know without charging an arm and a leg. I feel that it is even ridiculous that I would try to find out how any genetic mutation might have caused my condition. But I still want to find out.

Should I get tested?