Big thanks to Stephanie for sharing her story ❤Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, or CAH, is a group of conditions that affects the adrenal glands. These glands, which sit above the kidneys, make hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone and androgens (male sex hormones). The effects of CAH vary significantly from person to person, depending on the type of CAH. Read more: www.healthdirect.gov.au/congenital-adrenal-hyperplasia Intersex is an umbrella term for over 30 different conditions with varying degrees of impact. For some, intersex features are noticeable from birth, while others don’t realise until they try for children. For more information, read: www.healthdirect.gov.au/intersex-variation Secret Science - Stream Tuesday, 9pm on ABC iview: ab.co/StreamABCiview

Thank you, Stephanie. Education and exposure is how we reduce stigma, so I really appreciate you sharing your story 😊

Awww. It breaks my heart that anyone could be that mean. You're beautiful and brave. Thank you. ❤

Thank you for your bravery in "coming out" about your CAH birth condition. When I came out at the end of June 2022 I was so scared to open myself up to public criticism, some of which I did in fact and still do receive. More people with CAH need to "come out" as this is definitely not a choice we make but a potentially deadly birth condition. The US and other countries already require mandatory infant screening for CAH, but when I was born this condition was something of an absurdity, as NO ONE WAS THOUGHT TO BE BOTH MALE AND FEMALE, something known as "true hermaphrodism". YOU ARE NOT ALONE, and CAH does not identify you as a person, you are, however, INTERSEX! BE PROUD OF WHO ARE!

I was born intersex, and was assigned female at birth, but the doctors withheld this information from me until I turned age 16.

Wow! You are such an amazing, strong, and beautiful young woman. Thank you for sharing your powerful message. I love that - “we are all different so it’s normal” fantastic! . Big love to you ❤️❤️❤️

Thanks for sharing your story. It really helps people to understand the differences in the world. Also, your story is way different from those who just think they have a problem!

Thanks for sharing your life with us, Stephanie.

It has been my honour to have known Steph for several years now. She is my inspiration

Can't stand the sorting of humans into rigid blue and pink boxes. Sometimes people happen to be another wonderful colour. A mix of blue and pink is still an amazing human being.

Very moving story ❤

Thank you for sharing your story! Such an inspiration.

this is by far the most amazing, the most astonishing thing ive seen this year - the abc hasn't turned off the comments.

Soo happy t hear you found your tribe of people, your not ashamed of your body, and are talking openly about your story. 💜

Thank you for being so brave and sharing your story! I feel so bad for you because of all the bullying! It's a shame what those kids did to you. 😢 I would have liked to be your friend at that time! I also went through a difficult childhood because of severe traumatization from my parents, but I was lucky enough to have friends at school. You would have deserved that experience as well, you seem so friendly and kind. Besides that every child deserves friends. I am so glad that you are having good friends now that support you and like you no matter what. ❤

Thank you for sharing your story, you did a wonderful job!

You are a wonderful, beautiful person Stephanie. It's heartwarming that you found your voice and are able to share it. Thank you.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. I can only imagine and hope that there are countless people feeling empowered and educated. I'm so sorry for the bullying you experienced. I believe that when we know better, we can do better.

Well done Stephanie. I wish more people knew about being intersex. It really encourages people to think differently about sex, gender and childrens rights to make decisions about their bodies.

Stephanie is such a beautiful woman in every way, and I laud her for her courage and determination. It's the mark of a survivor who can take what life throws at us, even at times it feels grossly unfair. To publicly discuss such an intensely personal matter also takes courage many other people would not have. It's amazing how nasty people can be, and I suspect it is a very negative human trait of the insecure to create an "enemy" of someone somehow different in order to build community of people who are the same....basically tribalism. That "outing" for lack of a better term is disgraceful. Fortunately, Stephanie is exceptionally intelligent, and obviously has loving parents who nurtured her, especially through the difficult times. Many things in our lives are out of our control, but people with a strong sense of right and wrong and who know to follow the path of righteousness are the winners for themselves, and for society. I hope that all those children have grown up and feel remorseful for their cruel and damaging behavior selfishly done to boost their own ego. But if they have not, I hope they see this, and understand the story from the perspective of Stephanie, who is an unwilling lightning rod who bear the brunt of their entirely unwarranted cruelty. May they have empathy, and that their poor decisions be a reminder in future situations. Be well, Stephanie. You are a hero.

Bless your beautiful heart. What you are contributing to make the world a better more empathetic place, cannot even be measured.

Thankyou for sharing. You have a beautiful personality ❤

What an amazing young woman. So beautiful, intelligent brave and soooo kind! You are a blessing to this world. Stay amazing!

Beautiful and brilliant in ALL of the very best ways❤

Thanks for sharing. I've worked among people who had gender re-assignment surgery and others who were on other parts of the gender spectrum. I suppose I was curious but I wasn't judgemental. I know you can be treated differently and it often hurts. Only one ever opened up about their struggles and that was because they were targeted at work and I found myself helping her. I will admit that growing up I had the cultural conditioning that there were only two genders and anything else was wrong. It took exposure, experience and getting to know others to change that.

All People are born in different shapes, colours and sizes and yours is Beautiful 😊. I have always found it strange that people face criticism for being born the way they are, thank you for breaking the cycle with awareness.

So amazing - so beautiful - and such a powerful story! 👏💜👏

You're gorgeous

Loved hearing you ,yes we are ALL different ,my difference is I was born without parents who could care for me so I was placed in care ,the orphan crazy weirdo was my bully mantra and IPICK ME is a beautiful reminder that im going to use ,Thank you for showing the world the beauty in difference

That was very brave of you to tell everybody about this it's not a secret but everybody sure has buried it for many many many many many many many many many years probably centuries actually probably since the very beginning of human knowledge.

Only a Sith deals in absolutes! (Seriously though, thanks for sharing)

My niece was born without any genitalia and no vagina.

You're awesome, just the way you are. 😁👍👍

Those kids were awful😢

❤❤❤