Intersex infant surgery involves medical procedures undertaken on newborns or infants born with physical sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions for male or female bodies. These surgeries are often justified as necessary for helping the child fit into societal norms and to prevent potential psychological distress associated with growing up intersex. However, such surgeries have increasingly come under scrutiny for ethical reasons and concerns about long-term impacts on the individuals' physical and mental health.

The practice has sparked a significant debate about the autonomy and rights of intersex individuals. Surgeries can cause irreversible physical harm and psychological trauma, particularly as they are performed without the consent of the child, who is too young to have a say in such life-altering decisions. Human rights organizations and many in the medical community advocate for delaying such surgeries until the individual can participate in the decision about whether they want to undergo surgery at all.

Movements toward legislative changes have gained traction in various parts of the world to protect intersex children from non-consensual medical interventions. These laws aim to postpone any surgery that is not medically necessary until the intersex individual can express their informed consent. This shift towards a more consent-based approach represents a growing recognition of the rights of intersex individuals to make their own choices about their bodies and identities.