中间性 - 中间性性象谱

中间性的原因- 激素因素

先天性肾上腺增生性肥大(Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, CAH)

照字面的意思来理解，医学术语“先天性肾上腺增生性肥大”的意思是“生来的肾上腺过度增生”。它是指位于肾脏上方的肾上腺的功能障碍并尤其产生促使机体生长的各种各样的激素。(先天性肾上腺增生性肥大是“肾上腺性征异常综合征”的先天型，在男女都可能发生，这种综合征的其他名称还有“肾上腺生殖器综合征”和“肾上腺变态综合征”等——译者注。)然而，这种特殊的功能障碍病人身体产生某些激素的量并不理想。他们的肾上腺外围部分(称为“肾上腺皮质”)增厚(即“增生性肥大”)，而且不能适当地发挥功能。其结果是随着胎儿期和随后的儿童期的发育以及成年期，其激素分泌机制受到损害。这能够导致严重的健康问题，其中就有某种类型的中间性的健康问题。
以下的内容只能对这种病症及其治疗作一个非常简单的介绍。

Intersexuality - The Intersexual Spectrum

Causes of Intersexuality - Hormones

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

The medical term “congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)” - literally translated - means “inborn adrenal overgrowth”. It refers to a malfunction of the adrenal glands which lie next to the kidneys and produce various hormones essential for the body’s growth. In this particular case of malfunction, however, they do not produce the optimal amounts of certain hormones. Instead, the outer part of the adrenal gland (called “adrenal cortex”) thickens (i.e. becomes “hyperplastic”) and cannot function properly. As a result, the hormones production is impaired, and with it the development of the fetus, and later that of the child and adult. This can cause severe health problems and, among other things, some form of intersexuality.
The following subsections can offer only a greatly simplified description of the condition and its treatment.