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Testicular feminization

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention
Alternative Names:
Androgen insensitivity syndrome
Treatment:
For complete testicular feminization:
  • If testicular tissue is found in the abdomen or in the inguinal canal during childhood, it might not be removed at that time. Once puberty and growth are complete, the testis may be removed because it may develop cancer like any undescended testicle. In addition, gonadoblastomas are cancers that occur almost exclusively in XY gonads of people with abnormalities of sexual differentiation.
  • Estrogen replacement after puberty.
  • Support of gender identity.
For incomplete testicular feminization:
  • Treatment and gender assignment can be a very complex issue, and must be individualized with great care.
Expectations (prognosis):
Infertility is expected. Otherwise, the outlook for complete testicular feminization is good if at-risk testicular tissue is removed at the proper time. The outlook for incomplete testicular feminization varies greatly depending on the presence and degree of ambiguous genitalia.
Complications:
Complications include testicular cancer, infertility, and complex psychosocial issues.
Calling your health care provider:
Call your health care provider if you have any signs or symptoms suggestive of the syndrome.
Male reproductive anatomy
Male reproductive anatomy
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