The Guevedos Phenomenon: Why Girls in the Dominican Republic Become Boys

Every person is born either a man or a woman. But there are exceptions - for example, cases of genetic or hormonal disorders, when a child is born with characteristics of both sexes. But there is an even more surprising phenomenon. In the Dominican Republic, in the village of Salinas, the sex of children can change with age. Here, girls can become boys at a certain point in their lives, regardless of their wishes and without the help of modern medicine. What is behind this phenomenon? Let's figure out why this happens and how it affects people's destinies.

Scientists noticed an incredible feature of the inhabitants of the Dominican village of Salinas in the 1970s. Doctors who arrived to help local farmers fight infections were surprised to learn that some girls turn into boys when they reach puberty.

Girls are literally growing male genitalia. In the villages, this phenomenon is called guevedose, or "testicles at twelve." This phenomenon also has a scientific name: deficiency of 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme involved in testosterone metabolism.

In the rest of the world, this is an extremely rare phenomenon. Genetically, such children are born boys: they have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. But due to a genetic disorder during intrauterine development, their body is unable to convert the male hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). And it is this DHT that is responsible for the development of male genitals.

The genitals of such children after birth look like women or have characteristics of both sexes. But with the onset of puberty, testosterone begins to be produced. Because of this, the penis and scrotum begin to grow, muscle mass increases, and the voice begins to break.

But when puberty begins, all guevedos live like girls. They wear dresses, play with dolls, and learn to run a household. Although this is not always the case. BBC journalists came to Salinas and interviewed several guevedos. One of them, Johnny, once went by the name Felicita.

He remembers wearing a red dress to school in elementary school, but notes that girls' games never appealed to him, and women's clothing seemed uncomfortable to him. Johnny was always drawn to the company of boys, and he enjoyed participating in their games.

Although guevedos are not uncommon in the village, children often tease and bully their "special" peers. Johnny got it too: both when he was Felicita and later, when he was already a boy. The man recalls that he constantly had to defend his dignity with his fists.

Another guevedose, Castulo, lived as Catherine until he was 12. As a child, he, like Johnny, gravitated toward boyish activities. Castulo's mother noticed the change when her son was 10. She was not surprised - something similar had already happened in their family: her nephew also changed his gender.

The guevedose phenomenon came to the attention of scientists in the 1970s, when endocrinologist Julianne Imperato-McGinley of Cornell University visited Salinas. Local stories of “girls who become boys” were confirmed. Studies have shown that about one in 90 children in the village exhibits this trait.

Imperato-McGinley conducted numerous studies and uncovered the mechanism behind the phenomenon. She also studied statistics that showed that the probability of a guevedose being born in the village over the past 70 years was about 2 percent. It was found that the mutation persisted due to the village’s geographical isolation and frequent inbreeding. Her work not only explained the nature of the phenomenon, but also led to the creation of a drug for the treatment of male pattern baldness and prostate problems, which today helps millions of people around the world.

In Salinas, guevedos are treated with understanding. Locals have long been accustomed to this phenomenon and even came up with a name for it. However, life for such people is not always easy. According to documents, they remain girls, which creates bureaucratic problems. In addition, in adolescence, guevedos may face misunderstanding or ridicule.

Research shows an interesting fact: most guevedos prefer women after gender reassignment and live the normal life of men. This confirms that hormones play a key role in shaping sexual orientation, often having a greater influence than upbringing.

Although Salinas is the most famous place where the guevedose phenomenon has been observed, it is not unique. Similar cases have been reported in Papua New Guinea, where the locals call it kwolu-aatmwol, meaning "a female thing that turns into a male thing." There are also rare reports of cases in Turkey. However, in other parts of the world, such mutations are extremely rare.

Scientists believe that isolated communities where close kinship is common help to preserve this genetic trait. The guevedose phenomenon shows how complex the process of gender formation is and how nature can surprise. Research into this phenomenon has helped not only to explain a rare mutation, but also to create medicines that improve the lives of millions of people.

What do you think about the guevedos phenomenon? Have you encountered other amazing mysteries of nature? Share your thoughts in the comments!