Intersex medical interventions, also known as intersex genital mutilations (IGM), are surgical, hormonal and other medical interventions performed to modify atypical or ambiguous genitalia and other sex characteristics, primarily for the purposes of making a person's appearance more typical and to reduce the likelihood of future problems. The history of intersex surgery has been characterized by controversy due to reports that surgery can compromise sexual function and sensation, and create lifelong health issues. Timing, evidence, necessity and indications for surgeries in infancy, adolescence or adult age have been controversial, associated with issues of consent. Interventions on intersex infants and children are increasingly recognized as human rights issues. Intersex organizations, and human rights institutions increasingly question the basis and necessity of such interventions. In 2011, Christiane Völling won the first successful case brought against a surgeon for non-consensual surgical intervention. In 2015, the Council of Europe recognized, for the first time, a right for intersex persons not to undergo sex-assignment treatment and Malta became the first country to prohibit involuntary or coerced modifications to sex characteristics. Purposes of genital reconstructive surgery The goals of surgery vary with the type of intersex condition but usually include one or more of the following: Physical health rationales: to improve the potential for fertility to provide an outlet for menstruation to prevent or reduce urinary tract infections or obstruction to reduce risk of cancer in gonads with high risk levels to close open wounds or exposed internal organs to improve urinary or fecal continence. Psychosocial rationales: to alleviate parental distress over the atypical genital appearance. to make the appearance more normal for the person's sex of rearing to reduce effects of atypical genitalia on psychosexual development and gender identity to improve the potential for adult sexual relationships Both sets of rationales may be the subject of debate, particularly as the consequences of surgical interventions are lifelong and irreversible. Questions regarding physical health include accurately assessing risk levels, necessity and timing. Psychosocial rationales are particularly susceptible to questions of necessity as they reflect parental, social, and cultural concerns. There remains no clinical consensus or clear evidence regarding surgical timing, necessity, type of surgical intervention, degree of difference warranting intervention and evaluation method. Such surgeries are the subject of significant contention, including community activism, and multiple reports by international human rights and health institutions and national ethics bodies. Types of intervention Interventions include: surgical treatment hormone treatment