So.. could you "do" yourself? and get yourself pregnant?
2006-06-12 10:45:25 · 17 answers · asked by hoosick 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
People are born with both genitals. They're called hermaphrodites.
2006-06-12 10:47:58 · answer #1 · answered by furious but whatever 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A person born with both genitals is called a hermaphrodite.
Do you know that the clitoris is a small penis? Basically, it's a penis that hasn't grown. Instead, girls have a vagina. So, usually, hermaphrodites have a vagina with a small penis. I think they can get an erection. But they won't be able to auto reproduce as they don't have testicules.
I'm not a specialist on the subject, but that's basically the whole story.
PS: it's not called a disease, by the way.
2006-06-12 10:51:03 · answer #2 · answered by Offkey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, it's not a "disease." Some people are born with both male and female genitalia. For a long time these people were called hemaphrodites, and that term is still used scientifically to describe any species that have both male and female reproductive organs. However, when talking about a person with this condition, I believe the correct term is now intersexed.
Historically, when this was discovered at birth, the doctors would just remove the male genitalia, since that was the easiest thing to do.
I don't think the person could impregnate him/herself.
2006-06-12 11:03:38 · answer #3 · answered by auntjennifer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hermaphrodites are born but cannot reproduce as they are sterile. It is a birth defect not a disease and can be corrected surgically at least as far as appearances are concerned. Usually one set of organs is more prominent than the other but it is possible to have both a penis and a vagina. Rare but possible. You could not "do" yourself as you put it seeing as how even if both organs are present one is extremely underdeveloped. As far as impregnating yourself, its not possible. Humans are not asexual and require the DNA of two individuals.
2006-06-12 11:01:28 · answer #4 · answered by passion8 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is a medical condition called hermaphrodism, or more recently, "intersexual." The parts are not positioned in a way to enable self-impregnation in most cases.
Note that this happens in the plant kingdom as well, and is not a disease but a necessary evolution for some plants, even animals.
2006-06-12 10:52:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. They are called "hermaphrodites". It's a birth defect. And no, you couldn't get yourself pregnant. First off, because generally the penis doesn't work in hermaphrodites. And ZOER is right, they are sterile.
In the hypothetical case that you could, the mechanics to accomplish impregnation would be challenging. Downward bendin...?....O.K....Thanks for ruining my day.
2006-06-12 10:48:39 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It isn't a disease. Hermaphrodites just happen to have both male and female genitalia but are sterile and cannot reproduce.
*Edit: One could also have a mixture of both male/female organs.
2006-06-12 10:48:22 · answer #7 · answered by Zoer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not a disease, it's a birth defect. And, no, you can't impregnate yourself, because your sperm and ova would have the same DNA, and you need DNA from two different people to have a baby.
2006-06-12 10:49:24 · answer #8 · answered by fruitnroo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hahha i never thought about it that way lol but what i do know about it is that one genital is more prominent than the other...so you would have the internal organs of a female and the external organs of a male....hmmm don't know how making urself pregnant would work then..but..anything is possible in this day and age right? hahahah
2006-06-12 10:49:15 · answer #9 · answered by micheypoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, there can be a mistake in the DNA of a zygote which can lead to a person having XXXY chromosomes or something weird like that that isn't XY or XX which are the normal ones.
2006-06-12 13:31:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋