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Virilization
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==Prenatal virilization== In the prenatal period, virilization refers to closure of the [[perineum]], thinning and wrinkling (rugation) of the [[scrotum]], growth of the penis, and closure of the [[urethral groove]] to the tip of the [[penis]]. In this context, ''masculinization'' is synonymous with ''virilization''. Prenatal virilization of XX fetuses and undervirilization of XY fetuses are common causes of [[ambiguous genitalia]] such as in conditions like [[Congenital adrenal hyperplasia]] and [[5Ξ±-Reductase 2 deficiency]]. For many years, it was widely believed that in [[mammals]], the female is the "default" developmental pathway, and the [[Sex-determining region Y protein|SRY gene]] on the [[Y chromosome]] is responsible for suppressing the development of female characteristics and stimulating males characteristics. In this scenario, an [[embryo]] would passively develop female sexual characteristics without intervention by the SRY gene. However, in the early 2000s, other genes, such as [[WNT4]] and [[R-spondin 1|RSPO1]], were discovered that perform the opposite function β i.e., genes which suppress masculinization and stimulate feminization.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ainsworth |first=Claire |date=February 2015 |title=Sex redefined |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=518 |issue=7539 |pages=288β291 |doi=10.1038/518288a |pmid=25693544 |bibcode=2015Natur.518..288A |issn=0028-0836|doi-access=free }}</ref> Two processes: [[defeminization]], and masculinization, are involved in producing [[male]] typical morphology and behavior. ===High=== Prenatal virilization of a genetically female fetus can occur when an excessive amount of androgen is produced by the fetal [[adrenal gland]]s or is present in maternal blood, resulting in virilization of the female genitalia such as an [[Clitoromegaly|enlarged clitoris.]] It can also be associated with [[progestin-induced virilisation]]. ===Low=== ''Undervirilization'' can occur if a genetic male cannot produce enough androgen or the body tissues cannot respond to it. Extreme undervirilization occurs when no significant androgen hormones can be produced or the body is completely insensitive to androgens, in which case a female phenotype will develop. Partial undervirilization produces ambiguous genitalia part-way between male and female. Examples of undervirilization in fetuses with a 46,XY karyotype are [[androgen insensitivity syndrome]] and [[5 alpha reductase deficiency]].
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