Sex Reassignment: A Challenging Problem—Current Medical and Islamic Guidelines

Abstract

Sexual ambiguity is a complex and often confusing medical problem. In addition to the life-threatening adrenal crises which may accompany some forms, ambiguity of the genitalia may lead to incorrect sex assignment by parents and/or health personnel. Children who present to medical attention beyond the neonatal period constitute a challenging problem due to the grave consequences of this condition. Thirty cases in whom sex reassignment was indicated were seen at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, over a 10-year period. Of these, 27 (90%) were genetic females (20 were 21- and seven were 11-hydroxylase deficient) and three (10%) were genetic males (two partial androgen insensitive and one 5alpha-reductase deficient). All genetic males who were incorrectly assigned as females accepted reassignment. But 9 out of 27 (33%) of the genetic females who were incorrectly assigned as males refused reassignment. Preference for male sex assignment, delayed diagnosis and sociocultural circumstances seem to be the contributing factors for refusal. A national consensus about this important issue strengthened by the existing religious recommendations in demanded.