Transvestia

The most common symptom is gynecomastia, or exces sive breast development. Up to 75% of all boys be- tween 13 and 16 show it! Most lose this spontan- eously, but some require surgery and the most masculine boys sometimes have the most bust devel- opment.

Do you think you menstruate? Unless you have a functioning ovary, forget it; and if you DO, go see Dr. Federman RIGHT AWAY, because you are a true hermaphrodite or close to it. (Not that we TVs don't have a lunar cycle of sorts; some of us do but not to THAT extent, not even the transexuals.)

The author winds up with an excellent chapter on "The Nature of Sex". (Even if you can't read the parts in between, Chapters I, II and XV are worth the price). He lists nine components, any one or more of which may be discordant with the others:

1- External genital appearance is usually a 2-second decision by someone, who may be all too wrong with devastating results later.

2- Internal ductal differentiation is not readily observed, but is important in true hermaphroditism.

3- Identity of the gonads may seem obvious but can be very deceptive as in testicular feminization.

4- Endocrinological sex has a confusing overlap which makes it nearly useless.

5- Genetic sex is legally acceptable, but medically ambiguous.

6-Nuclear sex by the chromatin test is perfect for normal people, but has multiple meanings in others.

7- Chromosomal sex has the limitations discussed above under Klinefelter.

8- Psychological sex relates to the way one feels.