Something else? Ask Aunt Vadge – bottom left of your screen!
Not everyone is born with the same set of gear, which can present a unique set of challenges for the owner of the ‘other’. Here we delve into some of the most common – and rare – congenital anatomical abnormalities and differences in sexual development found in babies, and discovered later in teenagers and adults.
We don’t talk much about those differences that do not, in some way, include a vagina or parts of a vagina or female phenotypes.
Generally differences in sexual development and anatomical abnormalities are treated purely in the medical system with surgeries, hormones and drugs, with psychological support a large part of successful outcomes. Natural medical treatments can play a supportive role.
There is a lot that can be done to maximise the results of the body you or someone you love ends up with.
Aunt Vadge: I can’t find my vagina!
Can't find your vaginal opening for a tampon? It's not an obvious hole - it's tucked in soft folds. A gentle, step-by-step guide to finding it.
Jul
Aunt Vadge: What is this little bud on my vulva?
Worried your vulva or vaginal opening doesn't look like the diagrams? You're almost certainly normal - the likely simple reason, and a calm plan for seeing a doctor.
Dec
Aunt Vadge: What kind of intersex am I?
Wondering if you're intersex - 'something' inside your vagina, odd periods, stalled puberty? Those are real clues worth investigating. How to get real answers.
Mar
Vaginal adenosis
Vaginal adenosis is where cervical and endometrial cells are found in the vaginal walls, and is most related to women exposed to DES in the womb.
In utero exposure to DES
DES is a synthetic oestrogen given to millions of women during the 50s and 60s, before it was found to possibly cause vaginal cancers in female offspring.
Understanding precocious puberty
Precocious puberty is the early onset of pubic hair, breasts, vulvar changes, and height in a girl. Early puberty can occur for several reasons, which may affect a girl throughout life.
46,XX testicular difference of sexual development (DSD)
Folks with the 46,XX testicular difference of sexual development (DSD) are genetically female, but look (and feel) like males in every other way.
46,XX ovotesticular difference of sexual development (DSD)
The 46,XX ovotesticular genetic make-up means both ovarian and testicular tissue is present.
Turner syndrome
Turner syndrome is what life looks like with a missing X chromosome, in women. Turner syndrome is only found in females, with just one copy of the X chromosome present. Diagnosis might be made late, at puberty, when events don't pan out like they were expected to.
Aunt Vadge: A little cucumber-shaped piece of tissue two inches inside my vagina
She has a small piece of flesh inside her vagina, two inches in, which she isn't sure about. What could it be?
Obstructed uterine horn (non-communicating rudimentary horn)
What an obstructed uterine horn is, why it causes one-sided period pain, and how it is diagnosed and treated.
Jul
Kallmann syndrome
Kallmann syndrome is a genetic disorder characterised by lessened or no sense of smell and late/no puberty. Girls with Kallmann syndrome may fail to get their period and have very small breasts, with both boys and girls with this condition likely to have other abnormalities present.
Persistent mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS)
PMDS is a disorder of sexual development that only affects males, but results in a person having a uterus and fallopian tubes. This ducting is present because of a failure for the mullerian ducts to transform under the influence of an enzyme.
Understanding adrenal PCOS
Sometime the excess androgens involved in PCOS are produced by the adrenal glands, not the ovaries, which makes PCOS caused by the adrenals a bit different to regular PCOS. Find out how to deal with adrenal-androgen excess.
May
Aunt Vadge: is there any way to treat my underdeveloped ovaries and uterus?
A woman wants to know if her anatomical abnormality is fixable.
Cervical hypoplasia
Cervical hypoplasia is an anatomical abnormality that results in a malformed cervix, which can prevent a period from arriving or cause pain. The shape and size of the cervix can determine whether assistance will be required for pregnancies.
Uterine hypoplasia – the small uterus
Uterine hypoplasia is a small or underdeveloped uterus – what causes it, how it's diagnosed, and what it means for fertility.
Apr
Cockscomb cervix anatomical abnormality
A cockscomb cervix is an anatomical abnormality whereby the cervix appears with large ridges or folds of fibrous tissue that resembles a rooster's comb.
Uterus didelphys
A double uterus usually also means a double cervix and a double vagina - but not always.
Unicornuate uterus (hemi uterus) – müllerian duct anomalies
A unicornuate uterus is an anatomical abnormality that occurs when the two sides of the body are fusing together in the womb, and the mullerian ducts fuse abnormally. This is known as a mullerian duct abnormality, and can affect the size and shape of the uterus.
Aunt Vadge: If I use two fingers or a carrot, it hurts – do I still have my hymen?
Pain when you use two fingers isn't always your hymen. Arousal, a vaginal septum or other variations can be behind it, and when to see a doctor.
Reifenstein syndrome
Reifenstein syndrome is an androgen insensitivity syndrome occurring in foetal development that results in improper sex organ development in boys.
Vaginal agenesis – absent vagina
Vaginal agenesis is the complete absence of a vaginal canal, caused by an interruption to normal development as a foetus. Reconstruction is a viable option in most cases.
Cervical agenesis
Cervical agenesis means the cervix - connecting the uterus and vagina - is absent, usually due to either surgical removal or an anatomical abnormality that occurred during development in the womb.
Apr
Cervical stenosis
Cervical stenosis is the narrowing - for whatever reason - of the cervix, the neck of tissue that joins the vagina and uterus. A narrow cervix can create a few issues with in-and-out flow between the uterus and the vagina, including sperm, periods and babies.
