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These sisters were born with a Y chromosome
TNN | 31 mins ago
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KOLKATA: Aheli, a young athlete from Midnapore, risks having to give up her career in sports after it was revealed that she had a Y chromosome, a feature that is associated with the male genotype.
Aheli has an older sibling, Saheli, who like her, was born female, but has a similar karyotype: 46, XY - 46 chromosomes and both an X and a Y chromosome. Women have two x chromosomes.
At the age at which girls normally reach puberty, neither of the siblings exhibited the physical changes that are linked with the onset of adolescence in girls. They showed no signs of menstruating, for one.
It was a very difficult time for both siblings. Saheli withdrew from society, and tried to commit suicide. Aheli's coach told her to quit sports, for if she were revealed to be a man, she would lose all the medals she had won. Unable to cope with the constant stress, the siblings along with their parents left Midnapore for Kolkata.
In Kolkata, they consulted gynaecologist Dr. Gautam Khastagir. Tests revealed that while neither sibling had a uterus or ovaries, both had testicles and penises. The genitalia were "ambiguous" - to use a medical term.I'll let
Saheli and Aheli were then sent to renowned plastic surgeon Anupam Golase. Only two weeks ago, Saheli underwent surgery, and Dr. Golase now thinks that if Saheli's sperm count is healthy, he can father a child.
Aheli, on the other hand, is confused and feels that her future in under threat. The young athlete wants to keep playing and supporting her family, and is willing to start competing with men.
The co-chairman of the transgender board, Manabu Bandopadhay, has promised to discuss Aheli's predicament with other board members, and find a way for Aheli to keep her sports career alive.
Read this story in Bengali
Aheli has an older sibling, Saheli, who like her, was born female, but has a similar karyotype: 46, XY - 46 chromosomes and both an X and a Y chromosome. Women have two x chromosomes.
At the age at which girls normally reach puberty, neither of the siblings exhibited the physical changes that are linked with the onset of adolescence in girls. They showed no signs of menstruating, for one.
It was a very difficult time for both siblings. Saheli withdrew from society, and tried to commit suicide. Aheli's coach told her to quit sports, for if she were revealed to be a man, she would lose all the medals she had won. Unable to cope with the constant stress, the siblings along with their parents left Midnapore for Kolkata.
In Kolkata, they consulted gynaecologist Dr. Gautam Khastagir. Tests revealed that while neither sibling had a uterus or ovaries, both had testicles and penises. The genitalia were "ambiguous" - to use a medical term.I'll let
Saheli and Aheli were then sent to renowned plastic surgeon Anupam Golase. Only two weeks ago, Saheli underwent surgery, and Dr. Golase now thinks that if Saheli's sperm count is healthy, he can father a child.
Aheli, on the other hand, is confused and feels that her future in under threat. The young athlete wants to keep playing and supporting her family, and is willing to start competing with men.
The co-chairman of the transgender board, Manabu Bandopadhay, has promised to discuss Aheli's predicament with other board members, and find a way for Aheli to keep her sports career alive.
Read this story in Bengali
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