Turner Syndrome

Turner Syndrome

Ally Hoskins

Turner Syndrome is a genetic defect, which affects only females. Abnormal sex chromosomes cause this disorder. When a female is born with only one female sex chromosome (X chromosome) or one of the sex chromosomes is incomplete it causes developmental abnormalities and infertility, also know as Turner Syndrome. The term “Turner” in Turner Syndrome comes from the last name of an American endocrinologist, Henry Turner. Doctor Turner named this disorder after himself in 1938, when he first described the collection of findings, however it wasn't until 1959 that the cause of Turner Syndrome was identified.

The effects of Turner Syndrome can be very damaging to a woman`s physical features. At birth it causes hands and feet to be very puffy, which in the long run causes fingertips to be blue and somewhat still puffy. Turner Syndrome also causes ears to be odd shaped and placed awkwardly, the neck to be webbed, the top of the mouth to be high arched, a broad chest, deep set nails, a small jaw, a short stature, and a low hairline. The effects of this disorder stretch far past the physical image of a person, it also affects a woman`s health. This disorder creates a lot of health issues involving the heart, kidneys, and the ovaries. It also causes the stages of puberty to happen at a slower rate and to occur later in life than it normally would in a female without the disorder. Approximately 1 in 2,000-2,500 females born are born with this disorder.

The Turner Syndrome Society of the United States (TSSUS) is national non-profit organization that provides health-related resources to patients, families and physicians for the diagnosis and treatment of Turner Syndrome. TSSUS holds a conference every year where people with Turner Syndrome attend and gain information that can help them from experts on the disorder. This organization was created in 1987 by a group of women who were very involved in networking and support and today has grown to contain over 600 workers and over 100 volunteers. This organization offers a wealth of support to those in need of help and to provide education on how to handle the disorder in a smart and effective way.

Turner Syndrome is a disorder that cannot be fully cured. However it can be managed or corrected with the proper medical treatments. As said in the above paragraph, this disorder changes the pubertal process in an affected to person. So to help an affected person, Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) is used to speed up the pubertal process and helps to develop feminization and also helps prevent bone degeneration. Another process known as Human Growth Hormone Therapy helps an affected person to grow in height. There are very few treatments for this disorder and it can never completely cured but it can be greatly improved with specific medical treatments.