CTM or Close To Male is a term for intersex individuals who can be closely described as a male, or described as 'almost male' but aren't actually male. This usually implies one has XY chromosomes, a penis or something similar to a penis, and other masculine traits while not being entirely male.
This term is important, as the term "AMAB" implies that they are assigned male at birth, which isn't always the case, wolffian implies they are not intersex, and POP implies they have a penis, which is not always the case.
Many CTM individuals have XY chromosomes, however they do not have to. Instead, they may have other masculine traits such as testicles, defined muscle, a masculine body, etc. All that matters is that they can easily be classified as 'almost male.'
They may have ambiguous genitals, be on the agenital spectrum, or have a vagina which means they may be assigned female at birth instead. Because of this, calling them AMAB may be incorrect to properly describe their experiences.
CTM variations
- 17-AH Deficiency (XY chromosome version)
- 17-KSR Deficiency
- 45,X/46,XY Mosaicism (masculine version)
- 49,XXXXY Syndrome
- Aarskog-Scott Syndrome (XY chromosome version)
- Agenital (cryptorchidism, penile agenesis, micropenis)
- Androgen Resistance
- AMAB Hypogonadism
- Aromatase Deficiency (XY chromosome version)
- Aromatase Excess Syndrome (XY chromosome version)
- ATR-16 Syndrome (XY chromosome version)
- Campomelic Dysplasia (XY chromosome version)
- CHARGE Syndrome (XY chromosome version)
- Chromosome 18 Ring (XY chromosome version)
- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (XY chromosome version)
- Cytochrome PORD (XY chromosome version)
- De La Chapelle Syndrome
- Denys-Drash Syndrome (XY chromosome version)
- Diphallia
- Estrogen Resistance
- FMPP
- Gonadal Agenesis (testicular/scrotal agenesis/anorchia)
- H Syndrome (XY chromosome version)
- Hypospadias
- Kallman Syndrome (XY chromosome version)
- Klinefelter Syndrome
- Leydig Cell Hypoplasia
- MDP Syndrome (XY chromosome version)
- Opitz G/BBB Syndrome (XY chromosome version)
- Penoscrotal Transposition
- PMDS
- Polyorchidism
- PPSH
- Prader–Willi Syndrome (XY chromosome version)
- Seaver Cassidy Syndrome
- SERKAL Syndrome
- XXXY Syndrome
- XXYY Syndrome
- XYY Syndrome
- XYYY Syndrome
Flag
The flag was created on April 27, 2021 by FANDOM user Ariathatsme. The meaning goes as follows: Grey-blue for a certain amount of masculinity, blue for being closest to the male sex, white for unity and connection, and yellow for the intersex spectrum.
History
The term CTM was coined by Cryptocrew, specifically Angel, to fill a much needed gap in language.