Doctors removed this intersex woman's gonads shortly after birth, a decision that changed her life

Stephanie Saal was born with an intersex variation which meant she was born without ovaries or a uterus, but with male gonads. ( ABC News: Christopher Gillette )

Link copied Share Share article Stephanie Saal has lived with a series of what-ifs since doctors carried out irreversible surgery on her as a baby that she believes reduced her chances of having children.

She was born in 1995 with an intersex variation, which can include genital, hormonal and chromosomal variations that do not reflect a typical male or female body, and affects 1.7 per cent of births.

Stephanie was born without ovaries or a uterus but with male gonads.

Within days of her birth, doctors removed them because they were worried about the risk of cancer.

A doctor recommended that Stephanie have surgery within days of her birth. ( Supplied )