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Iris Jiang

After 27 years living life as a female, the shock examination of a woman in China has revealed a testicle in her abdomen, meaning that biologically she is a male.
Li Yuan, from central China’s Hubei province, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, had been concerned about not menstruating and delayed breast development since puberty.
She went to a local hospital when she was 18 and was diagnosed with abnormal hormone levels and potential ovarian failure.
Doctors also recommended a follow-up chromosome test at the time, but Li and her family did not take the advice seriously.

It was not until recently, when Li was planning her wedding that she decided to undergo a thorough examination.
This time, Duan Jie, a veteran gynaecologist, diagnosed a rare disorder, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).
After a month’s anxious wait for the results of tests, the doctor’s judgment was confirmed.
Li had male sex chromosomes, but looks female.
“Socially, Li is female. But chromosomally, she is male,” Duan explained.
Li was shocked by the news. Living as a woman for 27 years, she struggled to accept the truth.
Only about 1 in 50,000 newborns have this form of CAH.
Both of Li’s parents carry recessive disorder-causing genes, so Li had up to a one-in-four chance of having the abnormal condition passed on to her.
Due to a lack of early treatment, Li also suffers from osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency, the test results revealed.
The doctor suggested an immediate surgical removal of the testicle hidden in Li’s abdomen because it posed a high risk of cancer.

In early April, Li successfully underwent the dangerous surgery and had the organ removed.
She now requires regular follow-up tests and long-term hormone therapy.
Public reactions to Li’s predicament were varied, with many people online expressing sympathy and admiration for her courage in facing such an identity crisis.
No details were available about what will happen to Li’s planned wedding.
Duan said early diagnosis and treatment for people with similar symptoms to Li’s was vital.


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People & Culture

Gender & Diversity

Woman, 27, looks forward to wedding, decides to have medical check-up
Doctor finds rare disorder, male sex chromosomes, but female hormones


A young Chinese woman who was planning her wedding had a thorough medical check-up because she was not menstruating, and found out that she was biologically a man.


Women and gender

Shock as about-to-marry China woman discovers she is biological man after doctors find testicle in her stomach

Woman, 27, looks forward to wedding, decides to have medical check-up Doctor finds rare disorder, male sex chromosomes, but female hormones

Woman, 27, looks forward to wedding, decides to have medical check-up

Doctor finds rare disorder, male sex chromosomes, but female hormones