Can human hermaphrodites impregnate themselves and give birth?

[Reply]

And if they can't "naturally", can they artificially inseminate themselves?

...yes, I know this question demonstrates astounding ignorance of human anatomy.

[Rigamarole]

For humans it looks like no (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_a_hermaphrodite_self_impregnate).

This source (http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/may2001/990225720.Gb.r.html) says it can happen occasionally in other species but even that is rare, since most naturally hermaphroditic species still cross-impregnate each other.

[panache45]

I'd say, first you have to define "hermaphrodite." There are a lot of variables.

[billfish678]

Only if they are from Nantucket :)

[yoyodyne]

Intersexuality (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex) is complicated. Self-fertilization would be so unlikely that for practical purposes it's impossible. Artificial insemination could work under the right circumstances.

[Freudian Slit]

I'd say, first you have to define "hermaphrodite." There are a lot of variables.

From what I've read, there pretty much are no true human hermaphrodites...are there? True hermaphrodite meaning having both male and female reproductive parts.

[Kalhoun]

I know one. I don't know all the details, except that there were multiple surgeries and this person lives as a man. I assume the surgeries were for "assignment" purposes. He's in his mid-20s, and I'd have to guess there was some chromosome testing, but I don't actually know.

[Quercus]

First, it's likely that fairly soon, with cloning techniques, any human being will be able to create the equivalent of a fertilized egg using just their own cells.
So, I think the only reasonable answer to the OP would exclude anything requiring serious medical manipulation of cells (e.g. treating a proto-egg to make it develop into a sperm) in other words, the question becomes 'Do human hermaphrodites have both functioning sperm and functioning eggs?'
My understanding -- though I'm eager to be corrected -- is that while ambiguous and/or some degree of multiple genitalia is not unheard of, having both testes and ovaries is very very rare.

[What Exit?]

Not a direct answer, but you might find —All You Zombies— (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_You_Zombies%E2%80%94) by Heinlein interesting. It is basically an odd fictional example of exactly what the Op asks.

[Kalhoun]

First, it's likely that fairly soon, with cloning techniques, any human being will be able to create the equivalent of a fertilized egg using just their own cells.
So, I think the only reasonable answer to the OP would exclude anything requiring serious medical manipulation of cells (e.g. treating a proto-egg to make it develop into a sperm) in other words, the question becomes 'Do human hermaphrodites have both functioning sperm and functioning eggs?'
My understanding -- though I'm eager to be corrected -- is that while ambiguous and/or some degree of multiple genitalia is not unheard of, having both testes and ovaries is very very rare.

That's my understanding, as well.

[scodd]

There are quite a few females born with testicles. I don't remember the number but I believe it is something like 1 per 1000. The testicles are usually not visible and are sometimes removed. Many apparently don't even know they have them or had them at birth. I wonder how many females with testicles are lesbians or bi and do the testicles have anything to do with their sexuality?

[Shagnasty]

From what I've read, there pretty much are no true human hermaphrodites...are there? True hermaphrodite meaning having both male and female reproductive parts.

There are/have been some but they are extremely rare. Pseudo-hermaphrodites however are fairly common but they are often referred to as hermaphrodites.

[Prelude to Fascination]

I remember seeing photos years ago (no link, sorry, and even if I had one, it wouldn't be safe for work) of a....person....called the Boston Batwanger that was supposedly a true hermaprhodite. Does anyone have information on that (safe for work info, preferably)?

I would think, answering the OP's question and staying on topic, it wouldn't be much of an advantage, evolutionarily speaking, for a person to impregnate themselves. Talk about a shallow gene pool!