Puberty is mostly awkward for people. For some female children in the Dominican Republic, some physical changes include growing a penis during adolescence.
Scientists first encountered Johnny, a "Guevedoce" baby during the filming of Countdown to Life, a British Broadcasting Corporations (BBC) series aired in the United Kingdom. The BBC show investigates a child's normal and abnormal growth progress in the womb.
Johnny lives in a small village in the Dominican Republic where one in 90 babies turn from female to male during puberty. Born female, did not grow a penis until he reached his 12th birthday.
"Guevedoce" literally means "penis at twelve." Guevedoce babies are also called "machihembras" which translates to "first a woman, then a man." These male babies are born without testes and, in turn, look like girls. During puberty, the penis and testicles begin to grow.
Johnny was once called Felicita. In his early years, he went to school wearing dresses and was treated like a normal baby girl. He started feeling different when he turned seven years old.
"I did not feel good, I no longer liked to wear a skirt, and I was no longer drawn to play with girls," said Johnny. "All I wanted to do is play with toy guns and boys." He recalled being teased and called names when the change happened.
Cornell endocrinologist Dr. Julianne Imperato was one of the first physicians who studied the phenomenon in the 1970s. She traveled to the remote village in the Dominican Republic upon hearing the rumors. Imperato made a medical breakthrough by explaining the medical phenomenon.
A fetus is given genes from both parents during conception. In its initial weeks of life, a human embryo is neither male nor female. The Y chromosome of a genetically male fetus will transform the sex gland into testicles. The Y chromosome sends testosterone - the male sex hormone - down a fetus' initial overhang called the tubercle. The testosterone transforms into a more dominant hormone called dihydro-testosterone, which turns the tubercle into a penis. Genetically female babies do not produce dihydro-testosterone so the overhang becomes a clitoris instead.
A deficiency in the enzyme called 5-α-reductase fails to produce a male genitalia in Guevadoce babies during their time in the womb. The surge of testosterone during puberty forces out the testes and the penis.
Guavadoces are also sometimes called "machihembras" meaning "first a woman, then a man." Despite having smaller prostates, guavadoce men are biologically male in all aspects.
At 20, Johnny wistfully recalled having a few girlfriends in the past. He is hopeful that he will find the love of his life and soon marry.
