WHAT is a woman? What is a man?

The High Court will be asked to ponder this fundamental question in an appeal involving two transsexuals who want to change the sex recorded on their birth certificates from female to male.

Photo: Gabriele Charotte

Both have had double mastectomies and were undergoing testosterone treatment, resulting in increased libido, hair growth and deeper voices, among other alterations.

After treatment one had increased chest size to such an extent that they moved from a size 38 to size 44 business shirt. The other grew body hair that is now ''profound'', a tribunal found.