Secret Intersex (C4): ONE mother summed up many people's feelings by saying it - a third gender, not male or female but somewhere in between - was a concern but also fascinating.

She laughed as she said it because she was slightly embarrassed about this attitude towards her daughter's condition. But she was right. Intersex, or hermaphroditism as it used to be called, is a subject that can't help but interest people.

This third sex, leaving people in a gender limbo land, is only now beginning to be discussed. The two Secret Intersex programmes gave a thorough grounding in the topic by looking at half-a-dozen cases.

The condition is not as rare as you might think. Every year, one in 4,000 babies is born who defies the normal definition of boy or girl. The bits and pieces that categorise them as male or female are mixed up, or fail to develop.

Doctors didn't used to encourage discussion, telling parents to keep their children in ignorance. They believed nurture outweighed nature, and that a child raised to think they were a boy or girl wouldn't worry that their physical attributes didn't correspond.

Now, debate is beginning about the best way to treat and respond to the condition, which causes both psychological and physical stress.

The first programme showed that openness leads to happier teenagers. Ilizane, 16, has been brought up fully award of her condition. She looks female but has testes instead of female reproductive organs. "I think of myself as more female than male, but I wouldn't say I'm a female," she said.

In the second programme, we met people suffering from the chromosomal anomaly Klinefelter's syndrome. This is the most common of all intersex conditions, with people having both male and female features. "Am I man or woman? I don't know. I am both," said Steph, putting the problem in a nutshell.

Paula and Andrea, from Durham, were born with male genitalia but failed to masculinise at puberty. They grew breasts and are now more comfortable living as women.

They run a support group, Cross Roads, for those with the condition. It would appear people like them need back up, as we saw them having to suffer the verbal taunts and abuse of local youths.

Both Paula and Andrea led what society would call normal lives before adopting outward female guises. Andrea was electrical engineer Andrew until his 30s, when doctors discovered he had Klinefelter's. Paul was married for over 13 years before becoming Paula. "It's what you feel comfortable with," he said, explaining the transformation.

Steph, on the other hand, had sought treatment to assert his masculinity. He was brought up a male but said, "I know I'm not male". His dilemma was echoed throughout this unsensational but eye-opening and informative series.

Published: ??/??/2004