A woman has shared her story of how she found out she was born biologically male after being unaware until she was 11 years old.

Lyss, who posts on TikTok as @intersexwitch, revealed the she only found out she was born intersex after she started asking her mom about periods.

Intersex is a broad term that describes bodies that fall outside of the male/female binary according to Planned Parenthood. 

There can be many variations of what is considered intersex, with some being born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn't fit the box of 'male' or 'female', and often interventions on children are not medically necessary.

See Lyss's TikTok below: 

Taking to her TikTok account, Lyss explained: "When I was 11 years old, my mom sat me down and told me I was biologically male."

She added: "What, I don't look like a biological male to you?"

Describing how the life-changing conversation went down, Lyss continued: "So my mum goes, 'We should probably have the talk'", revealing that she sat her daughter down to discuss periods.

"I was so curious, I was like, 'I just want to know when am I gonna get my period? When am I gonna get my boobs? When do I get to use tampons?'", she revealed.

"She sat me down at the dining room table, all formal, with a folder of medical information, and says, 'You are biologically male. You are not going to get a period. You are not gonna have kids. And, you are intersex.'"

Lyss revealed that the "entire world as [she] knew it crumbled" at the words, which left her "sweating and freezing" and imagining the wallpaper "melting off the walls".

She added that doctors and her mother told her to "keep it a secret", revealing that she did hide it for most of her life until deciding to share her story on TikTok about how she was "born with balls in my belly".

When asked whether her parents "chose" which gender she would grow up as Lyss revealed that she was born with female genitalia on the outside, but it was discovered she had premature undescended internal testes when she underwent an operation to fix a hernia she had as a baby.

She added that she has had to be on hormone replacement therapy since the age of 11 after doctors removed the internal testes during the surgery, which meant she could grow and develop as a woman through puberty.

Lyss explained that many intersex people need hormone replacement therapy as their bodies do not always have the parts that would create those hormones on their own, which are vital for other things such as brain health and heart health as well.

Being intersex is more common that most people realize, with Planned Parenthood revealing that estimates suggest around one to two people per every 100 born in the US are intersex.

Medical interventions such as the operation Lyss had also aren't always medically necessary, as is hormone replacement therapy depending on each individual case.

Featured image credit: Getty Images

Sex is a normal part of life and any relationship. Whether you're married, in a long-term relationship, or just looking for a bit of fun - sex is often an enjoyable activity for any two (or more) people.

However, for 26-year-old Jillian Currie, her sex life has become "virtually non-existent" over the last six years, as a result of a string of gynecological conditions that she has suffered with since she lost her virginity at 16.

Jillian, of Buckinghamshire, England, now fears that she will never have a successful romance, due to the fact sex can cause her vagina to tear "as if she has given birth" - the pain of which leaves her struggling to walk.

Since starting mysteriously, Jillian's condition has left medical experts baffled, and now she is sharing her story to help banish taboos surrounding vaginal conditions and let other women with issues know they are not alone.

Speaking to Press Association, Jillian says: "There’s a stereotype that women have a lower sex drive than men, but that isn’t always the case. I’ve wanted to do it, but not been able to – then I end up feeling frustrated that I can’t satisfy the other person.

"I can’t help feeling like there is a difference in the way men and women’s bodies are treated in medicine. Woman are expected to just suffer in silence, and a lot of the time, we aren’t even properly taught about our own bodies.

"It’s so hard not to lose faith, but I really want to encourage others out there to be persistent and keep pushing for an answer. You know your own body, so trust in yourself."

Sharing her views on her personal blog, Queens of Eve, Jillian revealed how her vaginal issues started when she lost her virginity back in 2010 - around the same time she was fitted with a contraceptive implant.

She recalls the implant causing irregular bleeding, which did not settle as her body struggled to adapt to the surge of hormones.

Jillian was then placed on a version of the Pill - but this only exacerbated her symptoms, This, combined with the various hormones lead to the e-commerce worker suffering from anxiety.

After doctors took her off contraception in 2011, things seemed relatively normal. That was, until 2014, when a 20-year-old Jillian – who was then in a relationship – started to mysteriously tear the skin of her perineum (the area between the legs) every time she had sex, leaving her in agony.

She said: "I’d be left with a deep cut, right where women usually tear when they give birth. It was every time I’d have sex and often it would be so painful that I’d have to stop.

"I was in a relationship at the time, but it obviously had an impact as, not only was I not able to be intimate as much as I’d like, but I also lost all my confidence."

In addition to the tearing, Jillian also experienced an extremely heavy discharge, forcing her to wear/change several maxi pads a day. She continued:

"I felt disgusting. I didn’t want anyone to touch me, so I basically stopped having sex. I know different bodies produce different amounts, but this wasn’t my normal.

"I know my own body and knew something had changed, but every time I went to the doctor, I was told it was probably simple like thrush or bacterial vaginosis – another common gynecological condition – and was given medication."

However, these prescribed tablets had very little effect, and Jillian started to fear she was suffering from life-threatening conditions like cervical cancer. At 24 years old, Jillian was able to convince doctors to perform a smear test - despite her being under the age limit in the UK. Thankfully, cancer was ruled out.

Although, the smear test did reveal that Jillian had ectropions - where cells from inside the cervical canal are present outside instead - which is known to cause bleeding, discharge, and pain during or after sex.

In June of 2018, she had the ectropions removed, a procedure that finally gave Jillian hope. But sadly, just five months later, her symptoms returned even worse than before.

"This time, I at least knew what to look for, so I went straight back to the gynecologist, who found two more ectropions", she said, adding: "In November 2018 I had a LEEP procedure, where an electrical wire loop scrapes and burns off the cells, while I was sedated, and, thankfully, that side of things seems to have been under control since."

Per her doctor's advice, Jillian came off the contraceptive Pill, but doctors were still nonethewiser as to why her skin kept tearing. The intimate area has now become so sensitive that she battles pain most days, sometimes struggling to use tampons and being unable to wear certain styles of underwear for fear of irritation.

Jillian said: "It’s been six years of absolute hell. I must have seen around 20 different gynecologists, as well as lots of other doctors like dermatologists, sexual health and allergy specialists.

"At one point, I was even told it might be psychological – but, while I understand that there may be an element of anxiety, I don’t think it’s the whole story. It wouldn’t explain why my skin physically tears."

"I’ve had allergy tests in case it was a reaction to something like an ingredient in my sanitary products, countless scans, and even a vulval biopsy – but nothing provided any answers.

"It got to the point where all I wanted was a diagnosis. Even if it was something bad, at least then I would know what I was dealing with and what my treatment options were."

In early 2019, Jilliam was once again offered a glimmer of hope, all thanks to a steroid cream. "I’d found one steroid cream that sort of worked, if I used it days and days in advance of having sex", she said, adding: "But then I figured I couldn’t live that way. For one thing, it would take any spontaneity out of having sex, but I also didn’t want to be using steroid creams long term on such a sensitive area.

"Plus, although it improved things, I was still tearing so it hadn’t completely resolved it."

Not willing to give up, Jillian went to see a sexual health expert who referred her to a specialist at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. During her appointment in December 2019, Jillian was finally given a diagnosis of vulvodynia - a chronic pain condition that affects the vagina.

It was certainly a relief to finally be able to put a name to her troubles, but the reason why Jillian’s skin is so fragile and prone to tearing still remains a mystery.

One suggestion is vaginal atrophy - a condition in which the vaginal walls thin or inflame, sometimes as a result of a lack of estrogen. In an attempt to combat this, Jillian is now taking a course of hormonal treatment, but is still waiting to see results.

"The vulvodynia diagnosis is a definite, but the atrophy is still a maybe," she said, "I just have to keep going with the treatment and see what happens."

Currently single, Jillian is fearful that she will never be able to have sex again if her condition does not improve.

"I have been in a couple of relationships while going through this, as well as periods of being single, but I would say my sex life for the past six years has been more or less non-existent.

"Knowing what I’m missing out on has had an impact on my confidence and mental health.

"Now, I almost panic if I’m talking to guy and it starts to get flirty, because I know at some point I will have to tell him that I cannot have sex as easily as other people can. Wondering when and how to bring it up is a challenge.

"Luckily, nobody has been nasty, and I suppose if they were, that’s not somebody I would want around."

Despite her unrelenting health issues, Jillian is still trying to stay positive - throwing herself into Queens of Eve, where attempts to help the many women that message her every single day:

"Through Queens of Eve, I try my best to be there for other women. It can be so difficult to find an answer for some gynecological problems.

"I’m happy to share my story because I want to help other women – my Instagram page is like a help hub – where women who have gynecological issues can speak to fellow suffers and learned that whatever they’re going through isn’t a taboo.

"A lot of the help out there seems to be geared towards older women, focusing on things like menopause and childbirth, or we’re simply given some drugs, or a form of contraception that can cause all sorts of other issues and told to get on with it.

"The underlying issue is that women aren’t properly taught about their own bodies. I’ve been on a wild goose chase for a decade now, and had no idea half of these conditions existed."

By being so open and honest about her own struggles, Jillian is hoping to reassure others that they should not be embarrassed about their bodies and seek medical help for conditions that were once considered "taboo":

"I understand that women can have insecurities, or feel a little uncomfortable going to the doctors about certain things, but there is no such thing as a normal body, and I really want to help break that taboo.

"Now, I want to put myself out there to show how many women are suffering like me.

"If I’d had read a story like mine a few years ago, I’d have felt far less alone."

A woman who was born without a vagina, womb, or cervix has opened up about her daily life and how it impacts her.

In an emotional episode of The Daily Mail's podcast, The Apple & The Tree, TV presenter Vogue Williams delves into the deeply personal story of Ally, a woman born without a vagina, womb, or cervix.

The episode explores Ally's relationship with her mother wendy, as well as Ally's journey with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) Syndrome, a rare congenital disorder.

Ally, now 42, opens up about her experiences living with MRKH Syndrome, a condition that wasn't discovered until her teenage years.

According to Penn Medicine, Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome is "a rare congenital disorder that affects the female reproductive system. This condition is characterized by an underdeveloped vagina and uterus. The uterus may be small or absent and the vagina is typically shortened."

Despite the initial shock and difficulty, Ally has since become an advocate for the MRKH community, sharing her story to raise awareness and support others facing similar challenges.

Ally's mother, Wendy, shared her perspective on Ally's diagnosis and the impact it had on their family. 

By the time Ally was taking her GCSEs, which is usually when you're aged 15 or 16 in the UK, she hadn't gotten her first period.

Medical professionals told her to come back in nine months if she hadn't got one, and after the time had passed, she still hadn't.

"They don't draw conclusions, you don't believe those conclusions exist, they don't go to worst-case scenarios, because you don't believe that there's a worst-case scenario," Wendy said.

One of the most poignant moments came when Ally courageously asked her mother about her feelings regarding never having grandchildren.

Wendy's response was filled with honesty and acceptance: "Oh, I don't give a f***!"

"No, honestly and truly. No, I really didn't Ally, I genuinely, truly really didn't," she continued. "As much as I love you, I'm not naturally a maternal person. I only loved you because you were mine. Because I knew early on that you weren't going to be able to have kids, I adjusted to reality.

"That's the funniest thing you've said. Never ever ever. I'm not just bulls***ing, I'm speaking my truth."

Throughout the episode, Ally and Wendy navigate sensitive topics such as relationships, self-worth, and societal pressures with grace and honesty.

Ally said: "A lot of women with MRKH go on to be a little promiscuous to prove womanhood. You want to prove your worth, you're like 'I am desirable, if I can't have kids I want to do this right'."

"I have had such a wonderful close relationship with my mum since I was diagnosed at the age of 16 and I think we demonstrate how we can have really hard conversations about difficult topics," Ally concluded.

Wendy added: "The dynamic of our relationship because of MRKH has gone deeper, more personal than the bulk of relationships between mother and daughter. It is a blessing actually."

Featured image credit: Peter Dazeley/Getty

An OnlyFans star with two vaginas has explained how her biological anatomy has helped her X-rated career.

Evelyn Miller, from Australia, makes a living from making risqué content online, but the creator is slightly different from her counterparts as she has a unique feature that has aided in her career.

Miller was born with a rare biological defect - uterus didelphys - which means she has two uteruses, and in Evelyn’s case two vaginas and two cervixes with one ovary on each side.

Even from a young age, she always knew she was different.

“Every time I had sex, it was different,” Evelyn told PerthNow. “It was painful and guys would say it felt like they were hitting a wall. I’d use a tampon and I would still bleed through, but my mum told me I was using them wrong.”

However, after she got more familiar with her condition, she realized that it could actually be a helpful tool for her line of work.

“It was really handy for work... certain guys were better for me [inside] a certain side, if one vagina needed a break or a time out I could use the other," she said, alleging telling the outlet she had slept with over 500 guys and none of them had noticed.

Until she came across a client, who was a gynecologist as a day job, and they seemed to know straight away.

"The sexy booking turned into more of a medical exam which was bizarre. He was fascinated, it’s not something professionals come across a lot," she recalled.

Then when Miller eventually got a boyfriend during her escorting years, she chose to separate her private and work life by having one vagina for her boyfriend and the other for her sex work.

"Having 2 vaginas helped me separate those two aspects of my life... otherwise, it all just ends up mashed together, and having separation is really important to me," she told the outlet.

As with anything, Miller's condition also comes with it's challenges.

"The frustrating part is that I’ve got to have two pap smears, two STD checks; and every time I go to a doctor, I have to explain and make them believe me," the mom-of-two said.

Rather than the usual female anatomy, above, she has two uteri and two vaginas. Credit: PIXOLOGICSTUDIO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images

She was also told by medical professionals that this condition comes with low fertility rates due to the complications that can be caused by having it.

Despite this though, the Aussie mom has managed to have two healthy children and said that even though it's rare, it's possible that she could get pregnant in both of her uteruses.

"I can get pregnant at the same time in both my uteruses and the babies could be 3 weeks apart," she noted, before stating that once doctors worked out that it was a possibility, they told her to not have sex in the other vagina.

"[They said] tape it up or put a sock up there," Miller added.

While it's sometimes challenging living with the condition, the content creator has always been "grateful" for the blessings it has brought her.

"There’s very little research into my condition as it’s so rare, and doctors always ask plenty of questions when it comes up in a medical sense. Ultimately, I’m grateful for all it’s been able to bring me," she said.

Featured Image Credit: Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto/Getty

A woman has opened up in a recent interview about her so-called "addiction to orgasms" and how it has affected her life.

Speaking to The Sun, 23-year-old Amy Matthews struggles in life to contain orgasms; having them in public, in front of her parents, and describes herself as "addicted" to the sensation, having several a day.

Amy, a dance teacher who hails from Oxford in England, regularly climaxes nine times during sex, but claims that her orgasm record is 18 in one sexual session.

Her first sexual encounter at the age of 15 was apparently nothing special, but when she started exploring her own sexuality more and with a partner at the age of 18, her sex drive escalated massively.

Amy says that, as she became more in touch with her body, she began orgasming more and more to curtail the chronic pain she experienced as a result of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, her polycystic ovary syndrome, and through the body-shaming, she received from a teacher.

Amy also used orgasming as a way to manage stress and anxiety in her life, to bring herself down from regular panic attacks.

But now Amy says that she finds it difficult to contain her libido - orgasming the instant she sees someone she's attracted to, or coming close to fainting during sex due to the intensity of her climaxes.

After being referred to a college counselor for sex addiction therapy to cope with her dependency on orgasms. Now she can control her sexual urges at work but claims that multiple orgasms are still the first thing she gets out of the way upon returning him.

Speaking to The Sun, Amy stated: "There was a lot of drama going on in my life and I started to suffer anxiety.

"Each time I had a panic attack, I found having an orgasm could help calm me down. The feeling of release was addictive and that’s when I started orgasming more regularly.

"One time, I had stormed out of a classroom, I sat down in the corridor and had one. While I don’t think I made any noise or blushed, God knows what other students must have thought seeing me sitting there. But it definitely made me less stressed."

She continued: "If I had a panic attack, the orgasm relief was better if I’d had physical sex — but I could feel emotionally worse afterward. At one stage I was having lots of sexual partners.

"I wouldn’t say the number of guys I have slept with was into three figures but it isn’t far off.

"With my third boyfriend, when I was 21, I had the best sex. The most memorable time was when I had a full-body climax. I couldn’t breathe. It lasted for ages. It was like being on a rollercoaster when the ride keeps going up. You want it to be over because you can’t take it anymore."

Amy added: "I’ve got a high sex drive and I prefer to see guys casually. I only sleep with them on two or three occasions."

She admits that she doesn't want a long-term relationship, and that she just "needs" to orgasm regularly. In fact, she says that some men are scared off by how regularly she can climax.

Pondering why she is so susceptible to orgasms, Amy believes it is from the "extra testosterone" in her body from her polycystic ovary syndrome.