Gemma Collins' termination of intersex pregnancy sparks fierce debate

Emily Stearn - DailyMail - 09/05
Speaking on the Everything I Know About Me podcast, the former TOWIE star broke down in tears claiming doctors advised her to have the abortion because her baby was a 'hermaphrodite'.

Only Way Is Essex star Gemma Collins sparked fierce debate today after revealing she terminated her pregnancy because her baby was intersex and 'not going to be right'. 

Speaking during a candid interview on the Everything I Know About Me podcast, the former TOWIE star broke down in tears claiming doctors advised her to have the abortion in her 20s because her baby was a 'hermaphrodite'.

Hermaphrodite is considered an outdated and offensive term for people intersex. In modern society, the term 'people with differences in sex development' (DSD) is used.

The umbrella term covers 40-plus rare conditions which develop in the womb and give people unusually arranged or developed genitals. 

Sometimes the internal anatomy is rearranged. For example, a boy may be born with a penis but have internal, rather than regular external, testicles.

The vast majority of intersex people live perfectly normal and healthy lives. 

Gemma Collins has revealed she was advised to terminate a pregnancy after learning her unborn baby was a 'hermaphrodite' - [the correct term is intersex]

Listen to our shocking interview with Gemma Collins on our podcast, Everything I Know About Me: 

Podcast All episodes
  • Everything I Know About Me Gemma Collins: Your Life is going to Change
  • Everything I Know About Me - Gemma Collins: From Romford with love
  • PODCAST: Gemma Collins reveals partner's affair while she was pregnant
  • PODCAST: Listen to Everything I Know About Me with Spencer Matthews
  • Everything I Know About Me - Spencer Matthews: Steroids in the Jungle
Play on Apple Spotify

Gemma told the podcast: 'You can imagine I didn't know what the word was. I had to look it up. I'd never been taught about hermaphrodites. 

'I didn't know what they were I didn't know they existed. So that was a real shock.' 

She added: 'Then they advised me you need to have a termination becaus...
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