Call The Midwife praised for addressing rare testicular feminisation syndrome

Call The Midwife has been tackling interesting topics and giving lesser known issues a platform.

In this weeks episode, the period drama focused on a condition known as testicular feminisation syndrome, where a woman is born without a womb and male testes in place of her ovaries. 

The storyline followed Lois Parry, a bride-to-be who visited Nurse Trixie for a smear test - only to reveal that she has never had a period even though she is 22-years-old. 

She had been keeping this from her family and friends, as she was getting married and hoping to have children. 

When she was examined, it was found that she is intersex and, as the doctor tells her, ''You have a very rare condition, and where your ovaries would normally be, he found two male testes growing. It’s called testicular feminisation syndrome.''

Intersex people are usually born with male and female biological characteristics and is now referred to as androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Lois is devastated and calls off her wedding before taking an overdose of pills.

Luckily, she is fine after being rushed to hospital and Trixie is on hand to help her feel better.

She tells her, ''You are still the same kind lovely person, with a family and a fiancé that love you very much.’ ‘Our bodies are only part of who we are.'''

Lois gets back together with fiance Paul after she tells him the truth.

Viewers applauded the show for depicting a condition that is not talked about much.

One said, ''Intersex representation is very important to show that this was around in the 1960s and isn't a new thing. Well done @CallTheMidwife1.''

While another wrote, ''Last night was amazing! So tough watching the scene where all those male doctors were observing & commenting as if the young woman wasn't a person. But the story was tenderly addressed...wow! #callthemidwife.''

Well done to the scriptwriters who brought an important condition to the attention of the viewing public.

Feature Image credit: BBC

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