“My testicles don’t make me less of a woman,” ~ Caster Semenya

..... do in inboard testicles provide an unfair aerodynamic advantage?

But I never implied that. In the latest post of mine you’re taking issue with, this is what I said in full:

For example, CAH, MRKH and Turner syndrome are female-only DSDs. Whereas Semenya's DSD is a male-only DSD.

The underlying condition behind Semenya's DSD - an enzyne deficiency known as 5-ARD2 - occurs with equal prevalance in both sexes, but it only affects the sex development of males. Thus it's only a DSD in males. If Semenya were female, Semenya's 5-ARD2 would have had no impact whatsoever on Semenya's sex development.

Nowhere did I “imply that CAH can not affect 46,XY males” the way you harrumphingly - and absurdly - claim I did. Nor would I ever do such a thing.

For the record: CAH occurs in both sexes, and can/does affect the health of both sexes in a number of different ways. But whether or not CAH affects fetal sex development - and does so to the point where it results in a DSD (disorder/difference of sex development) - varies markedly depending on the sex of the affected fetus/child - and the specific type and cause of his/her CAH.

CAH is an umbrella term for a group of congenital disorders of the adrenal glands that cause fetuses and persons of both sexes to produce unusually high levels of androgens. CAH has many other effects to, but the over-production of androgens is the feature that's relevant here.

Whether or not the unusually high levels of androgens during fetal development will cause a person to be born with atypical sex organs for their sex depends on which sex a person is, and the form of CAH she or he has.

CAH is widely regarded as a DSD only in female babies because production of, and exposure to, unusually high levels of androgens during fetal development do not impair normal formation or function of any of the male sex organs. Excess fetal androgens cause marked genital abnormalities in female babies and female babies alone.

The kind of CAH that’s commonly considered a DSD in babies is known as classic or classical CAH. Classic CAH causes female children with the condition to to be born with external genitals that are atypical - often enough so that they get mistaken for baby boys. But there is no corresponding genital atypicality or ambiguity due to unusually high androgen production in male babies with classical CAH.

From Mayo Clinic:

"Female infants may have atypical genitalia appearance, such as an enlarged clitoris that may resemble a penis, and a partially closed labia resembling a scrotum. The urinary opening (urethra) and the vagina may be only one opening instead of two separate openings. The uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries usually develop typically.
Male infants usually have typical-appearing genitals."

If there’s any observable difference between the genitals of baby boys with classic CAH and other baby boys, it’s that the CAH boys will have an enlarged penis and hyper-pigmented genital skin.

From the The UK’s NHS:

"What are a baby boy's typical symptoms? Male babies look normal, except their [scrotal and penile] skin may be slightly darker than usual. The penis may be enlarged."

Except in a small number cases of some male infants with a highly unusual, extremely rare kind of CAH, there’s nothing ambiguous-looking about the genitals of newborn boys with CAH

From MedlinePlus, the online information service produced by the US National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Heath:

"Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is the name given to a group of inherited disorders of the adrenal gland.

"Girls with a more severe form often have masculinized genitals at birth

"Boys will appear normal at birth, even if they have a more severe form."

From the Endocrine Society:

"In many cases, female infants are diagnosed at birth because they have ambiguous genitalia (external sex organs that resemble male genitals). However, they still have normal internal female organs (ovaries and uterus).

"A male infant with classic CAH usually appears normal at birth, although he may have an enlarged penis."

Medical News Today:

"The increase in androgen in the body [caused by CAH] affects males and females differently."

National Adrenal Disease Foundation:

"In many cases, female infants are diagnosed at birth because they have atypical or ambiguous genitalia (external sex organs that resemble male genitals). However, they still have normal internal female organs (ovaries and uterus).

"A male infant with classic CAH usually appears normal at birth, although he may have an enlarged penis."

Pediatrics Review, American Academey of Pediatrics:

"In newborn males, the external genitalia usually are unaffected, except for subtle penile enlargement."

Johns Hopkins Medicine:

"Female infants with classic CAH might be born with an enlarged clitoris or external genitalia. Conversely, male infants with classic CAH do not have any genitalia changes."

CARES Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Foundation:

"Classical CAH must be detected at birth to avoid an adrenal crisis, which can lead to death.

"Without newborn screening for CAH, the child is at risk for a life-threatening adrenal crisis, especially males, who show no outward physical manifestations of the disease.

"Infant females generally come to medical attention at birth because the disorder causes affected females to exhibit recognizable genital anomalies resulting from high androgen levels while in the womb, and therefore receive prompt treatment for adrenal crisis and salt-wasting.

"The excess androgen exposure coming from the fetus’ adrenals during the period of gestation when the external genitalia are formed causes these external genital anomalies in females. The clitoris is usually enlarged due to excess androgen exposure during fetal development.

"Only the external genitalia appear atypical. Internal female reproductive organs, including ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and cervix are not affected. Some parents may choose reconstructive genital/urological surgery for their daughters. (See our section on Surgery for more in depth discussion of this issue.)

"Infant males with CAH appear normal at birth. Newborn males show no external signs of the disorder and are sent home unrecognized. These babies often present with vomiting or life-threatening shock within the first few weeks of birth where there is no newborn screening.

"Because the condition is life-threatening if not treated soon after birth, all 50 US states and many other countries require newborns to be screened for classical CAH."

That is the most direct interpretation of what you wrote. Learn to write carefully, not just blubberously with lots of words. CAH is commonly described as a DSD irrespective of the sex of the affected person. It sometimes does have visible external symptoms. It doesn’t matter if you disagree. Nobody in the real world cares what you think. Nor do I.

Testicles, shmesticles. If you don’t have a penis, you’re a woman. Keep it simple.

CAH, DSD, blah, blah, blah. Propaganda posing as science.

The science says Semenya isn't a woman or "she" could compete in women's sports without restriction. "She" can't.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzkFDaquRgw/?igshid=MXE3c3QwaW0wZzQ4dA==

It’s a bold strategy Cotton, let’s see if it pays off.

RunRagged is the only poster on Semenya threads (many of them) who actually IS educated on the exact topic at hand. Semenya (who could be using the name 'icicle') is not. Neither are those who insist Semenya is female by any or all definitions. RunRagged actually quotes science journals. Semenya/icicle and fans thereof do not.

The only definition that matters is this: Men have penises and women have vaginas. Like it or not, Caster is a woman.

Not as DSD-46XY. We know she has testicles. She likely therefore does not have a vagina - which goes with having ovaries.

Semenya's statement "My testicles don't make me less of a woman" is accurate because Semenya is already ZERO woman. Therefore, testicles do not, and can not, make Semenya any less of something Semenya is not to begin with (a woman).

Are we really to be lectured to by this gentleman who goes on and on about “unusually high levels of androgens” and “atypical sex organs”? Again, men have penises and women have vaginas. We all learned this in the first grade. Absent evidence that Caster has a penis, she is a woman.

But, for you, women have testicles?

For me, a human being without a penis is a woman, regardless of testicles.