Surgical reinforcement of gender identity in adolescent intersex patients.

The presentation of phenotypic gender ambiguity at the time of adolescence is uncommon. Surgical reinforcement of gender, or reassignment is often complex and multistage. We present 2 cases of children who developed secondary sexual characteristics contrary to their chromosome status who, because of their late presentation, required significant surgical intervention to reinforce the gender assigned to them. We review some of the surgical techniques involved.