Comments on: Is Caster Semenya a woman, and the issues surrounding androgen insensitivity syndrome http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/is-caster-semenya-a-woman-and-the-issues-surrounding-androgen-insensitivity-syndrome.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:57:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Cherryhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/is-caster-semenya-a-woman-and-the-issues-surrounding-androgen-insensitivity-syndrome.html#comment-111584 Cherry Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:19:04 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39814#comment-111584 I hear that the latest idea is that she/he is hermaphrodite, but I don't know how this conclusion was reached. This is the same label that the patient I mentioned was given at the time; however, as she appeared externally to be definitely a woman, I think she must have CAIS. Ms. Semenya looks more like a man. I hear that the latest idea is that she/he is hermaphrodite, but I don’t know how this conclusion was reached. This is the same label that the patient I mentioned was given at the time; however, as she appeared externally to be definitely a woman, I think she must have CAIS. Ms. Semenya looks more like a man.

]]> By: GMhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/is-caster-semenya-a-woman-and-the-issues-surrounding-androgen-insensitivity-syndrome.html#comment-111565 GM Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:19:25 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39814#comment-111565 There are 7 stages of AIS, stage 7 being termed Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) and the others classified as Partial Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (PAIS). PAIS people's bodies can still use some of their testosterone, while CAIS people cannot. The lower numbered stages of PAIS may not have perfect external female genitalia. Semenya obviously does not have CAIS, but PAIS. What stage of PAIS he has, we don't know. But he needs to have his testes removed because there is a strong tendency for them to become cancerous. I don't think he was trying to fool anyone. In all likelihood, neither he or his family knew of his condition. Because he doesn't have CAIS, it is probably unfair for him to compete as a woman because his body can still produce and utilize more testosterone than a female. There are 7 stages of AIS, stage 7 being termed Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) and the others classified as Partial Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (PAIS). PAIS people’s bodies can still use some of their testosterone, while CAIS people cannot. The lower numbered stages of PAIS may not have perfect external female genitalia. Semenya obviously does not have CAIS, but PAIS. What stage of PAIS he has, we don’t know. But he needs to have his testes removed because there is a strong tendency for them to become cancerous. I don’t think he was trying to fool anyone. In all likelihood, neither he or his family knew of his condition. Because he doesn’t have CAIS, it is probably unfair for him to compete as a woman because his body can still produce and utilize more testosterone than a female.

]]> By: Brianhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/is-caster-semenya-a-woman-and-the-issues-surrounding-androgen-insensitivity-syndrome.html#comment-110561 Brian Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:33:06 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39814#comment-110561 P.S. - K7, the story that Jamie Lee Curtis has AIS is apocryphal. Depending upon your source, she was alternately a hermaphrodite at birth.And yes, Cherry, that sounds about right. Mullerian structures fail to form, but there remain undescended testicles in the abdomen. P.S. – K7, the story that Jamie Lee Curtis has AIS is apocryphal. Depending upon your source, she was alternately a hermaphrodite at birth.

And yes, Cherry, that sounds about right. Mullerian structures fail to form, but there remain undescended testicles in the abdomen.

]]> By: Cherryhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/is-caster-semenya-a-woman-and-the-issues-surrounding-androgen-insensitivity-syndrome.html#comment-110556 Cherry Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:37:21 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39814#comment-110556 I had not heard of this before, but it explains a patient I had many years ago, a married woman who was known to have no uterus. She had an abdominal tumour which was first diagnosed as dysgerminoma of ovary, but on review was found to be actually a seminoma of undescended testis. I had not heard of this before, but it explains a patient I had many years ago, a married woman who was known to have no uterus. She had an abdominal tumour which was first diagnosed as dysgerminoma of ovary, but on review was found to be actually a seminoma of undescended testis.

]]> By: SarahWhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/is-caster-semenya-a-woman-and-the-issues-surrounding-androgen-insensitivity-syndrome.html#comment-110546 SarahW Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:29:04 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39814#comment-110546 Thanks for answering that part of my query, here below I answer my own: There *is* a partial or incomplete form of AIS. Thanks for answering that part of my query, here below I answer my own: There *is* a partial or incomplete form of AIS.

]]> By: Brianhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/is-caster-semenya-a-woman-and-the-issues-surrounding-androgen-insensitivity-syndrome.html#comment-110543 Brian Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:08:04 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39814#comment-110543 Jeremy,SarahW is asking the right question. Typically, AIS results in a very tall, very classically "feminine" appearance (large breasts, sparse body hair, etc.). This is certainly not the picture Caster presents.No need to get your hackles raised. Jeremy,

SarahW is asking the right question. Typically, AIS results in a very tall, very classically “feminine” appearance (large breasts, sparse body hair, etc.). This is certainly not the picture Caster presents.

No need to get your hackles raised.

]]> By: anonhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/is-caster-semenya-a-woman-and-the-issues-surrounding-androgen-insensitivity-syndrome.html#comment-110540 anon Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:21:24 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39814#comment-110540 SarahW:testicular feminization syndrome = androgen insensitivity syndromeAndrogen insensitivity syndrome is the modern, accepted term. Describes the condition more accurately IMHO as well. SarahW:

testicular feminization syndrome = androgen insensitivity syndrome

Androgen insensitivity syndrome is the modern, accepted term. Describes the condition more accurately IMHO as well.

]]> By: anonhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/is-caster-semenya-a-woman-and-the-issues-surrounding-androgen-insensitivity-syndrome.html#comment-110538 anon Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:18:32 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39814#comment-110538 K7AAY - ".....Jamie Lee Curtis was born with AIS......"We don't know that. The only people who know that would be Jamie Lee, her parents, her doctors, I guess her husband, etc.......They're not saying. You may well be right. I thought that was an admitted fact as well, but official status is "undetermined".I appreciate your point, though. K7AAY – “…..Jamie Lee Curtis was born with AIS……”

We don’t know that. The only people who know that would be Jamie Lee, her parents, her doctors, I guess her husband, etc…….

They’re not saying. You may well be right. I thought that was an admitted fact as well, but official status is “undetermined”.

I appreciate your point, though.

]]> By: Jeremyhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/is-caster-semenya-a-woman-and-the-issues-surrounding-androgen-insensitivity-syndrome.html#comment-110532 Jeremy Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:28:57 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39814#comment-110532 Are any of the text book examples world class track athletes? What would the rigours of intense interval and strength training have on any woman's body ...including one diagnosed as AIS? Women's professional and international level olympic sports are repleat with examples of women with divergent phenotype. Are any of the text book examples world class track athletes? What would the rigours of intense interval and strength training have on any woman’s body …including one diagnosed as AIS? Women’s professional and international level olympic sports are repleat with examples of women with divergent phenotype.

]]> By: SarahWhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/is-caster-semenya-a-woman-and-the-issues-surrounding-androgen-insensitivity-syndrome.html#comment-110530 SarahW Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:22:07 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39814#comment-110530 Also, in the textbooks I refer to, the condition was described as "testicular feminization syndrome". Is AIS a more umbrella term ? Also, in the textbooks I refer to, the condition was described as “testicular feminization syndrome”. Is AIS a more umbrella term ?

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