A woman who was born intersex has addressed the biggest misconceptions of living with the condition.
Jackie Blankenship, 40, from Grandville, Michigan, was nine years old when her parents sat her down and told her that she was ‘born a little different.’
While on the outside Jackie appeared like a completely normal little girl, she soon learned that her body ‘didn’t fit into the standard boxes.’
She was diagnosed with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, or CAIS, which means she developed externally as female but internally, she doesn’t have a uterus or ovaries – instead, she has ‘internal testes.’
She also has XY chromosomes, which means she is ‘genetically male.’
‘My body can’t respond to androgens, so I developed externally as female,’ she explained exclusively to the Daily Mail.
‘I look female and was raised female, but I don’t have a uterus or ovaries. I can’t menstruate, and I can’t carry children.’
At first, Jackie admitted that coming to terms with the realization was not easy.
Jackie Blankenship, 40, from Grandville, Michigan, was born intersex. She developed externally as female but internally, she doesn’t have a uterus or ovaries
Instead, she has ‘internal testes.’ She also has XY chromosomes, which means she is ‘genetically male.’ She’s seen as a child
‘It felt like I was being let in on some awful secret about myself, like there was something shameful or broken inside me,’ she recalled.
‘I remember feeling confused, alone, and like I was somehow less than other girls. It was deeply isolating.
‘This wasn’t from anything with my family, they never made me feel anything but “normal” – it was coming from doctors and hospital visits that left me confused.’
She said she lived in a ‘constant fear’ of people ‘finding out’ about her secret, which she herself ‘didn’t full understand.’
And puberty was extra ‘confusing’ because she ‘didn’t get a period’ and ‘can’t grow body hair under her arms’ or in her pubic area.
‘I absolutely felt different, but I also didn’t have the language or support to understand why. There was a lot of shame, and a lot of pretending,’ she said.
She had her internal testes removed at age 15, and three years later, she started vaginal dilation therapy – which involves using dilators to stretch the canal and make it longer like a typical vaginal canal.
While Jackie was initially ‘scared’ of her being intersex would affect her love life down the line, she is now happily married and has welcomed a daughter through a gestational carrier.
She had her internal testes removed at age 15, and three years later, she started vaginal dilation therapy – which involves using dilators to stretch the canal. She’s seen after her surgery
Now, Jackie has fully embraced her differences and often speaks out about being intersex online in the hopes of ending the stigma around it
She admitted that she ‘didn’t tell her partner right away’ when they first got together out of fear of how he would react.
‘It’s terrifying to open up about something this personal, especially when you’ve been taught to believe it makes you “less than,”‘ she confessed.
‘A consistent question the doctor would ask me was, “Have you told your boyfriend?” The way it was asked always made me feel like telling him was going to be a big “thing.”
‘But when I did tell him, he was loving, kind, and completely unfazed. He didn’t see me as “intersex,” he just saw me as me. That acceptance helped me heal in ways I didn’t know I needed.’
She added, ‘Being intersex doesn’t affect my intimate life. I have a fulfilled life like any non-intersex woman.’
Now, Jackie has fully embraced her differences and often speaks out about being intersex online in the hopes of ending the stigma around it.
‘I went most of my life thinking I was this one in a million case. I never want another kid to feel like I did – ashamed, confused, and alone,’ she said.
‘Sharing my story online has allowed me to connect with thousands of people to educate as well as SO many intersex individuals who have stories just like mine.
‘That’s why I do it. To educate, to empower, and to start conversations that should have happened decades ago.’
While Jackie was initially ‘scared’ of her being intersex would affect her love life down the line, she is now happily married and has welcomed a daughter through a gestational carrier
She said she ‘still carries some of the trauma’ from her teenage years, but has ‘found so much power in reclaiming my story.’
‘Speaking openly, connecting with other intersex people, and advocating for bodily autonomy has changed everything. I no longer feel ashamed. I feel strong,’ she gushed.
She said the biggest misconception about intersex people is that they’re ‘broken’ or ‘some kind of medical emergency that needs to be “fixed.”‘
‘I hope people walk away [from my videos] with a deeper understanding of how complex and beautiful human biology can be,’ she concluded.
‘I hope they rethink rigid definitions of sex and gender. But most of all, I want people to see that intersex people deserve the same dignity, autonomy, and respect as anyone else. Different doesn’t mean broken – and I’m living proof of that.’
