Medical assistance

I would like to offer a few medical comments on the guest column, “Accept sexul range,” in your Oct. 28-29 issue by Dr. Marquita Hill — a biochemist. The conditions Dr. Hill alludes to — true hermaphordiasm and pseudohermaphordiasm — together comprise a diverse grouping of genetic, developmental and hormonal defects. The commonest condition causing masculinization in females — congenital adrenal hyperplasia — occurs in the U.S. population about three times in every 10,000 female births, including both earlly and late onset cases.

Cases of feminization of males are as rare or rarer. Even including chromosomal defects such as Turner’s syndrome and Klimefelter’s syndrome, there is no way the total incidence of these conditions add up to anything but a small fraction of Dr. Hill’s figure of 4 percent of the population.

More disturbing is Dr. Hill’s implication that for people with these conditions the only real problem is society’s perception of them. Among chromosomal disorders there is a high incidence of mental retardation and psychiatrist problems. The biochemical defects can lead to short stature and electrolyte disorders.

No one would disagree that society should be humane in accepting those who can’t be helped medically. However, early diagnosis and medical and surgical treatment can often help avoid medical problems, preserve reproductive function and give children a normal appearance. My feeling is that the great majority of patients with these conditions and their families would prefer practical medical help to Dr. Hill’s social theories. Christopher Ritter, M.D. Old Town