|
中間性
-
中間性性象譜 |
|
中間性的原因
-
環境因素
|
|
內分泌干擾化學物/合成激素(EDCs,
Synthetic Hormones) |
近年來，很明確，環境污染已經導致了許多野生雄性動物的雌性化。例如：某些生活在工業化學物污染的湖泊和河流裏的魚和青蛙已經出現雌雄雙性的症狀，並由此而不能繁殖。這一後果會繼而顯著地影響到它們的種群數量。在此所提及的化學物稱為內分泌干擾化學物(endocrine disrupting chemicals，EDCs)。正如其名稱所指明的那樣，它們干擾諸如卵巢和睾丸這樣的內分泌腺的生理功能，也就是說它們在生物體內妨礙激素的固有的生理作用。所以，它們能夠導致包括性器官異常發育在內的各種各樣的體格問題。欲描述全部的這些化學物則超出了本教程的範圍，在此也不可能列舉它們的多種效應。不管怎樣，這些化學物對人的中間性的實際而潛在的作用仍然不明，並且一直受到人們的觀測和探討。不過，在孕婦的有關內容中曾經描述過的特定的激素類藥物孕酮(Progestin，也稱為黃體酮——譯者注)干擾內分泌功能的作用則是毋容置疑的。這種用於避孕的藥物，在(上個世紀)50和60年代，曾用來防止流產。然而，它沒有預期目的的那種效應，卻對女胎有著男性化發育的作用。當出生時，她們的性器官在相當大的程度上像男性的性器官。二乙基-已烯雌酚
(diethylstilbestrol，DES)
是一種人工合成的雌激素，從1940年代到1970年代早期，曾一度被人確信是防止流產的藥物。也是這樣，它並不像預期的那樣有防止流產的作用，而是有非常嚴重的無法預料的副作用。其中的副作用是引起新生兒的中間性的病症並增加用藥的女孩和孕婦的健康風險。
所有這些觀察資料再一次闡明，中間性確確實實是一個伴隨著各種各樣病因的發病程度不同的問題。所以，既然每一個病例是有差別的，那麼所有的中間性作為個體必須和值得區別看待和分別治療。他們在各個方面是有著自己權益的完整的人。雖然他們在統計學上是少數，他們有權得到大多數人認可的優先照應的權益。
(左)用於歐共體的標誌：對環境危險
這封畫了一顆枯死的大樹和一條死魚的標誌必須被張貼在那些可能危害自然環境的化學物的包裝上。 |
 |
 |
(右)美國食品藥物管理局的標貼
在美國，食品藥物管理局(FDA)通過確保藥品、生物製品、醫療儀器、食物、化妝品和放射線產品的安全來保護公眾健康。 |
|
|
Intersexuality - The Intersexual Spectrum |
|
Causes of Intersexuality - Environment
|
|
EDCs, Synthetic Hormones |
In recent years, it has become clear that environmental pollution has caused the feminization of many male animals in the wild. For example: Certain fish and frogs that were exposed to industrial chemicals in lakes and rivers have developed intersexual conditions and thus an inability to reproduce. The result is a continuing dramatic decline in their populations. The chemicals involved here are known as
endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). As the name indicates, they disrupt the workings of endocrine glands like ovaries and testicles, i.e. they interfere with essential hormonal processes inside the body. Thus, they can lead to various physical problems, including the atypical development of sex organs. Describing all of these chemicals lies outside the scope of this course. Neither is it possible here to list their many effects. At any rate, their actual and potential role in human intersexuality is still unclear and continues to be investigated. However, there is no doubt about certain hormonal medications that were once prescribed for pregnant women:
Progestin, widely used in contraception, was, in the 50’s and 60’s, administered to prevent miscarriages. While it was not effective for that purpose, it had a virilizing effect on female fetuses. At birth, their sex organs resembled, in various degrees, those of males.
DES (diethylstilbestrol) a synthetic form of estrogen, was, from the 1940s to the early 1970s, also given in the belief that it would prevent miscarriages. Again, it did not work as intended but had very severe unforeseen effects. Among these were intersexual conditions in newborn boys and increased health risks for girls and for the mothers who took the drug.
All of these observations once more illustrate that intersexuality is indeed a matter of degree with a great variety of causes. Therefore, since each case is different, all intersexes must be - and deserve to be - seen and treated as individuals. They are persons in their own right and fully human in every respect. While they are in a statistical minority, they are entitled to all privileges that the majority takes for granted.
(Left) Symbol used by the European Union: Dangerous for the Environment
The symbol, which shows a dead tree and a dead fish, must be displayed on the packages of all chemicals that could harm the natural environment. |
|
|
(Right) Logo of the US Food and Drug Administration
In the USA, the FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of drugs, biological products, medical devices, foods, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. |
|
