Sex Assignment in Cases of Ambiguous Genitalia

Ambiguous genitalia is a rare disorder where it is unclear whether an infant's external genitals are male or female. This can be attributed to various internal and external etiologies, such as androgen receptor abnormalities, gonadal abnormalities (such as gonadal dysgenesis or Klinefelter syndrome where a male has an extra X chromosome), enzymatic defects, etc. Correction of such atypical genitalia requires a multidisciplinary approach, including but not limited to surgeons and therapists. It is important to keep in mind that the treatment plan is tailored according to the specific etiology that is causative of the patient's condition, along with the anticipated perioperative and postoperative complications. Islamically speaking, this topic has been addressed in various Islamic literature and disciplines, including guidelines for dealing with this medical condition. Moreover, follow-up of the patient must be done to allow smooth integration into society.