Disorders of Sexual Development

Abstract

THE distinction between males and females is one of the fundamental concepts of social existence. Normal newborn infants present no problem in assignment, and the decision is usually made instantaneously by nonprofessional people. This easy certainty, however, masks an almost infinite potential for disordered sexual development, and in rare cases the most sophisticated approach cannot make an unequivocal assignment. This discussion concerns some of the newer information bearing on the process of sexual differentiation and develops concepts that may help to organize the large current literature in this area.Normal Sexual DevelopmentNormal sexual development, although a continuous process, can . . .