An influencer born with a vagina and testicles has revealed how her mother shockingly revealed she was born intersex when she was 11.

When Lyss, who lives in New York, was told by her mother that they were going to have a “talk,” they assumed it would be about tampons and menstrual pads.

But to the then-young girl’s surprise, the conversation took an entirely different turn when their mother pulled out a medical chart, revealing that Lyss was biologically born male.

In a video which now has 1.9 million views, Lyss said their world “collapsed” at that moment, saying: “When I tell you the wallpaper on the wall started to melt and I I was sweating and cold. »

The word intersex is used to describe anyone born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that is not distinctly “male” or “female.”

Lyss, a New York native, candidly shared in a video that now has 1.9 million views that they were 11 years old when their mother dropped the shocking bombshell.

Lyss was shocked when their mother told them they would never have children or menstruate when they were 11 years old.

They said: “The whole world as I knew it has completely collapsed. Doctors and my mother told me to keep it a secret and I did so for most of my life.

What is intersex?

Intersex is a general term used to refer to various situations in which a person is born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not fit into the “female” or “male” boxes.

Doctors still assign intersex babies a legal gender (male or female, in most states), but, just like non-intersex people, that doesn’t mean that’s the gender identity they’ll have as a child. growing.

Intersex is a natural variation in humans, and it is not a medical problem. Therefore, medical interventions (such as surgeries or hormone therapy) on children are generally not medically necessary.

Some intersex people have both ovarian and testicular tissue, while others have internal and external reproductive organs belonging to two distinct sexes.

Experts estimate that about 1.7 percent of the U.S. population is born with intersex traits, which is comparable to the number of people born with red hair.

From the outside, Lyss appeared to be a “typical little girl” and doctors initially thought the 11-month-old had a hernia.

But medical professionals quickly discovered that Lyss had internal testicles that had not descended prematurely into her lower abdomen.

They said: “They decided to eliminate them because they were just floating in there.”

Since the age of 11, the New Yorker, also known as @intersexwitch, revealed he had been on hormone replacement therapy.

It is common for intersex people to undergo various forms of hormone therapy.

Doctors and their own mothers had urged them not to tell anyone about their intersex status when they were children.

But the self-esteem coach was bursting at the appearance of a young person eager to live his truth and then revealed the secret to close friends.

Unfortunately this led to bullying, they said: “I was definitely bullied when everyone found out. »

“I went to school and told my friends who obviously weren’t going to be my friends forever and (they) told everyone.”

They openly revealed that on the outside, doctors thought they were a “typical little girl” until they discovered prematurely undescended testicles in their lower abdomen – which they have initially mistaken for a hernia.

Candidly sharing her own hormonal journey, the yoga instructor boasted, “Even though I took estrogen throughout middle and high school, it didn’t kick in until I was about 22,” pointing out their breasts.

In another video, they added: “But I’ve always had lady parts in my pants.”

Reflecting on his path to becoming less secretive about his biological status, the influencer said: “Now I’m an adult talking to strangers on the internet about how I was born with balls in my stomach.”

However, the self-proclaimed “unicorn” didn’t always have the confidence to share such private information publicly.

Viewers flooded the comments section with admiration for the influencer who openly shared their journey, calling them “gorgeous” and “beautiful.”

Viewers flooded the comments with support and questions, with one wondering why her mother would think it was a “good idea” to keep Lyss’ biological status a secret.

One person wrote: “Finally. Someone willing to share their story to create a platform for intersex people.

Another added: “Thank you for talking about yourself and your experiences! There isn’t enough intersex representation anywhere.

Many were mortified to learn the meaning of intersex so late in life, with one individual commenting: “I didn’t find out I was intersex until my twenties!!!! I hear that so much’

While one viewer said: “I’m embarrassed to admit that I learned about intersexuality very late in adulthood and I’m mortified at how many people don’t understand.” Thank you for sharing.’

Others were left with a myriad of questions to ask the yoga instructor: “So, did they ‘pick’ a gender for you or did you just grow naturally and look like a girl?”

Another asked: “How could anyone think hiding this was a good idea?????? »