skip banner - Return to original view
site viewing options
 
Parents|Medical Information|Professionals|In your area|Campaigns

Klinefelter syndrome

What are the symptoms?

There is an enormous variation in the expression of this condition. The commonest symptom is infertility. Some men are entirely normal and the diagnosis is only made for an incidental reason. It is important to give an open diagnosis to such children and not just paint a picture of the 'full blown' condition which is described below. It may be that just some of the features are present, such as tall stature or delayed puberty.

The syndrome is characterised by small testes, sterility and scant body hair. Breast development may appear after puberty in twenty-five per cent of those affected. In some cases intellectual difficulties, especially in verbal skills,may be experienced. Additionally psychological problems with self image may be experienced by adolescent boys and adult men.

Other chromosome abnormalities involving more than two X chromosomes in males may lead to learning difficulties.

View Background Background  |  Psychological and behavioural characteristics View Psychological and behavioural characteristics

Medical text written November 1991 by Contact a Family. Approved by Professor M Patton, Professor of Medical Genetics, St Georges Hospital Medical School, London, UK and Dr J E Wraith, Consultant Paediatrician, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, UK. Last updated September 2005 by Dr R Stanhope, Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK.

 

Tell us what you think of this information...

Print whole article Print whole article

 

This Web Site © Copyright, Contact a Family 2010
Contact a Family, 209-211 City Road, London EC1V 1JN
Tel: 020 7608 8700

Registered Charity No. 284912. Charity registered in Scotland No. SC039169
Company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales No. 1633333.
HM Revenue & Customs charity tax reference No. XN54769. VAT Reg. No. GB 749 3846 82

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.