It Took 66 Years For This Man to Know He's A Woman
Imagine stepping into the doctor's office, and having the doctor tell you that you've been living as the wrong gender all your life.
By Mei Mei Chu — 05 Jun 2013, 02:00 PM — Updated over 11 years ago
A 66-year-old man received the most unexpected doctor's diagnosis: "you're a woman"
A 66-year-old who lived his whole life as a man was given a surprising diagnosis after visiting the doctor in Hong Kong with a swollen abdomen -- he was a woman.
malaysiandigest.com"Were it not due to the huge ovarian cyst, his intriguing medical condition might never have been exposed," seven doctors from two of the city's hospitals wrote in the study published Monday.
malaysiandigest.comHe had a combination of two rare genetic diseases
Most men have a X and a Y chromosome and most women have a pair of X chromosomes. But people with Turner Syndrome tend to have only one X chromosome or are missing part of their second X chromosome.<br/><br/>
Image via blogspot.comThe strange phenomena was actually caused by a rare combination of genetic disorders which gave him the appearance of a man, despite being a woman.
inquisitr.comTests revealed that the patient was suffering from congenital adrenal hyperplasia and Turner syndrome, two rare genetic disorders.
ibtimes.co.ukThe subject had Turner syndrome, which affects girls and women and results from a problem with the chromosomes, with characteristics including infertility and short stature.
dailytelegraph.com.au
Common characteristics may include short stature, “incomplete sexual development,” infertility, physical abnormalities, and heart defects. While there is no cure for Turner syndrome, early detection and intervention with hormone therapy can ease symptoms.
inquisitr.comHe also had congenital adrenal hyperplasia, increasing male hormones and making the patient, who had a beard and a "micropenis", appear like a man.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia causes the adrenal gland to overproduce androgen, which is a male sex hormone. As discussed by Medline Plus, the condition can occur in men and women. The condition is quite rare.
inquisitr.comHe has a small penis, but no testicles
The 1.37 metres tall patient, who grew up as an orphan, was found to have no testes, a history of urinary leakage since childhood, and stopped growing after puberty at the age of 10.
The man experienced several medical abnormalities throughout his life, but continued to identify as a male. He stopped growing at the age of ten. He reportedly had a penis, which was quite small, but no testicles.
inquisitr.comHe is one in 3000
The doctors said there have been only six cases where both genetic disorders have been reported in medical literature. Turner Syndrome on its own affects only one in 2500 to 3000 females.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia affects one in around 15,000 births and causes male characteristics to appear early or inappropriately.
dailymail.co.ukThe combination of Turner syndrome and Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, experienced by the Hong Kong man, has only been recorded six times.
inquisitr.comHe/She will remain a man
The 66-year-old Hong Kong man, was stunned with the diagnosis, but continues to identify as a male. His doctors have stated that he is considering treatment including testosterone replacement.
inquisitr.comThe Vietnam-born Chinese patient decided to continue “perceiving himself as having a male gender with the possible need of testosterone replacement,” according to the journal.