Ms Wilson said surgeons should wait until a child reached an age of informed consent. The term intersex refers to people with genetic, hormonal or genital features that are not completely male or female, or a mixture of both.

In a submission to a recent Senate inquiry the organisation compared such surgery to 'infant genital mutilation'.

Andie Hider, vice-president and medical liaison representative for the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group of Australia, said: "Unless there is significant impairment that will cause ongoing health concerns until it is rectified, I don't think there is a justifiable reason to operate."

The group, which represents one category of intersex conditions, has called for a moratorium on non-urgent medical intervention. The calls come as new federal government guidelines that allow Australians to tick a third box, the "X" box, signifying "indeterminate/intersex/unspecified" on all government documents and passports, take effect on July 1.

The Senate this week is also expected to pass the the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Bill 2013, giving intersex people legal protection against discrimination for the first time in Australia.