Inside the Extraordinary Life of an Intersex Woman Defying Chromosomal Expectations
After this procedure, the individual will be recommended to undergo hormone replacement therapy—in Jackie’s case, with estrogen. This is done to maintain secondary sexual characteristics, optimize bone and cardiovascular health, and promote overall well-being.
And while it may vary from one case to another, the individual may require psychological help as they grow older, particularly when they enter puberty and experience physical changes. It is a crucial time in their lives when they may need emotional support from a professional who can help them navigate life.
“Nothing is wrong with me, I’m just a little different”
For many years, Jackie went through her fair share of challenges. In a 2017 blog for West Michigan Woman, she described her mid-teens as a “very confusing time.” It was when she had her gonadectomy and “was forced” to take medication to make up for her lack of estrogen.
“I lied for years, to everyone around me. I lied so much, I started to believe my own lies,” she wrote. “‘I had a hysterectomy,’ I told most. I let fear of people finding out that I was different keep me quiet.”
According to Jackie, the struggles of her condition hit her the hardest when she got married and wanted to bear a child, which her condition hindered her from doing. Fortunately, her sister volunteered to carry their child through in vitro fertilization using her husband’s sperm, which turned out to be a success.
Jackie says being able to share her story significantly helped her cope. It made her realize that nothing is inherently wrong with her, and she has since helped other West Michigan mothers with intersex daughters.
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