A hermaphrodite is a person who has both male and female genitalia. The term hermaphrodite is considered by the medical community to be out of date, however, and the condition is more commonly referred today as intersex. According to medical professionals, intersex can result in four possible conditions:

1. 46, XX Intersex - A person that has internal sexual organs of a woman, but external sexual organs of a man
2. 46, XY Intersex - A person that has male chromosomes, but whose external genitalia appear female
3. True Gonadal Intersex - A person that can technically be described as a hermaphrodite, having ovarian and testicular tissue
4. Complex or Undetermined Issues of Sexual Development - Variations of the above conditions or a sexual condition that has not yet been classifiedhttps://health.google.com/health/ref/Intersex

There are several tests that can be done to test for these conditions, including analysis of chromosomes and hormones. Ultrasounds can also be used to detect any internal sexual organs that are not consistent with the person's gender.https://health.google.com/health/ref/Intersex

The word hermaphrodite comes from the names of two gods of ancient Greece: Hermes and Aphrodite. Hermes was considered to be the god of male sexuality, while Aphrodite was the god of female sexuality. According to mythology, the two had a son named Hermaphroditos, the god of effeminate men and hermaphrodites. A nymph named Salmakis prayed that she could become one with him and when the two were formed into one being, the resulting god had male and female characteristics.http://www.theoi.com/Ouranios/ErosHermaphroditos.html

A few celebrities have been rumored to be hermaphrodites, or intersex. Among these are:

1. Jamie Lee Curtis - The daughter of Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis has been long rumored to be a hermaphrodite. These claims have never been substantiated. http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/jamieleecurtis/a/jamieleecurtis.htm
2. Runner Caster Semenya - Semenya was recently under investigation by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) after some began to suspect that her ability to run so much faster than other female athletes was because she was actually a man. Test results alleged that she had "both male and female sexual characteristics".http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/11/caster-semenya-hermaphrodite-reports-iaaf
3. Lady Gaga - The famous singer has been dogged by rumors of her supposed intersex condition for over a year, since pictures that appeared to show her with male genitalia surfaced on the Internet. In a recent interview, she said that while the rumors didn't bother her, her "vagina is offended" by the claim.http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2009/09/lady-gaga-addresses-hermaphrodite-rumors-vagina-very-offended/