sekse

Sekse is a term used in several languages to denote biological sex, the biological attributes that classify a person as male, female, or intersex. It encompasses chromosomal patterns, gonadal tissue, and external genitalia. Sekse is distinct from gender, which refers to social and cultural roles, identities, and expressions.

Most populations display a primary division into male and female at birth, but natural variation exists, and some individuals are intersex. Intersex conditions include differences in sex chromosomes (such as Turner or Klinefelter syndromes), gonadal development, or hormonal pathways that result in anatomy not strictly aligned with a binary classification.

Developmentally, sekse is influenced by genetic and hormonal factors starting in early embryonic life. The presence or absence of certain hormones during fetal development shapes primary sex characteristics (gonads and genitals) and secondary sex traits that appear during puberty. Intersex variations can arise from diverse mechanisms and may be identified at birth or later.

In health care and policy, sekse informs medical assessment, reproductive options, and sexual health. Respect for privacy, consent, and autonomy is standard practice, and there is ongoing discussion about appropriate medical care for intersex people and the use of sex assignment at birth. Legal recognition of sex may involve document labeling and anti-discrimination protections.

See also: intersex, gender, sexuality, reproductive health, sex chromosomes.