The history of surgery in disorders of sexual development

Abstract

Disorders of sexual development (DSD) have been documented throughout human history with fascination. Healers of all cultures have struggled to explain, and later correct with surgery, the physical manifestations of DSD. DSD was portrayed in the mythology, legends, and art of the ancient Greeks, Romans, Sumerians, Babylonians, and Egyptians. Techniques of feminizing genitoplasties date to the time of Celsus in the time of Christ. Acceptable operative therapy for feminine phenotypes of DSD came in the 19th and 20th centuries. Masculinizing procedures, inherently more complex than feminizing genitoplasties, initially were variations of procedures for severe forms of hypospadias. Today most total penile reconstruction procedures use reconstructive and microvascular techniques invented in 20th century.

Keywords: Castration; Disorders of sex development; Feminizing genitoplasty; Hermaphroditos; History; Penectomy.