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“Potential autofertility in true hermaphrodites”[1] by Istanbul urologist Zeki Bayraktar is among the most bizarre articles I have encountered in a peer-reviewed medical journal. Though the abstract and first few pages contain a secular discussion of intersex conditions, the paper abruptly pivots to an explanation for the birth of Jesus Christ. This theological tangent concludes, “According to Qur’an, it can be said that Mother Mary was a true hermaphrodite, who did not have ambiguous genitalia, with a normal female phenotype, became pregnant through self-fertilization, and gave birth to a healthy baby boy (Jesus).”

As an atheist, “Mary was a true hermaphrodite” sounds a little heretical, as does the cited opposing theory that Mary became pregnant through parthenogenesis and Jesus was chromosomally female.[2] But what do I know.

Theology aside, is Bayraktar right? Is autofertility possible in humans?

True to stereotype, rabbits have been documented exhibiting autofertility. Image of a rabbit that is probably not a hermaphrodite by JM Ligero Loarte.

Bayraktar himself makes a poor case for autofertility in humans, stating unconvincingly that “at least we cannot say that it is impossible for sure.” As far as Bayraktar and I am aware, there has never [...]

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Outline:

(02:42) Some humans produce both fertile sperm and eggs

(07:08) Modern medical practices artificially suppress bisexual fertility

(10:28) Autofertilization has probably never happened in humans

The original text contained 11 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

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First published:
May 31st, 2026

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/iGsNE8HgfWuLXqiEL/some-humans-are-both-male-and-female-and-can-but-shouldn-t

Linkpost URL:
https://hedonicescalator.substack.com/p/some-humans-are-both-male-and-female

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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