children s health issues
Genital Birth Defects
Causes of Genital Birth Defects
Male and female sex organs develop from similar tissue in the embryo. Whether this tissue develops into male or female sex organs depends on a number of things. One factor is the Sex chromosomes , which are called X and Y. Normal males have one X and one Y chromosome. Normal females have two X chromosomes. Early in development, a fetus with a Y chromosome begins developing testes, which secrete the male hormone Factors that can interfere with normal development of the genitals include Overview of Sex Chromosome Abnormalities None Abnormal or missing Genes (the DNA code of instructions for how the body works) Exposure of the fetus to substances, such as certain drugs and hormones, that interfere with genital development In many of these factors, the common problem is abnormal levels of sex hormones in the fetus before birth, particularly having too muchtestosterone(ortestosterone-like substances) in girls and too littletestosteronein boys. Sometimes, the disorder that causes genital defects also results in defects of other organs. 