Q. I am a 25 year old male. My body looks feminine. Please help.
Hello doctor, I am a 25 year old male. I am 181 cm tall and I weigh 70 kg. All the members in my family are tall, but I am not that big when compared to my father and brother. I am mentally depressed since my childhood. It is all about my body. I was a female looking boy with very soft body, less energy and not interested in sports. Since that time my arms and legs are very long. But arms are very lean as girls. My puberty was too late at around 18 years of age. But after puberty, I have hair on face, but till now it is not much as my brother had in that age. Facial hair is also thin and not uniform everywhere. I feel my bones are like females and not very strong, arms and fingers are not as big as males. My muscles are less too. I went for gym and built up a little muscle, but forearm and fingers are still feminine. I feel my waist is a little wide. Did I have any genetic problem or hormonal imbalance at puberty stage? I am totally exhausted. I am always worried about that. Please help me.
Hi. I totally understand your anxiety. Based on the description which you have given, there could be a possibility of Klinefelter syndrome. This condition can be seen in about one in 600 boys. A normal male will have a chromosomal pattern of XY. However, in case of Klinefelter syndrome, there would be an extra X chromosome which would have happened randomly during the formation of the egg or sperm, or after the baby boy had conceived.  The extra chromosome is not inherited. So, this condition does not run in families. The adult male body may not be able to produce enough testosterone, the hormone responsible for the development of male characteristics. There may be low energy and sex drive, lack of muscle and too much body fat around the waist. Most men with this condition lead normal lives and also have normal relationships. A few boys with condition may feel shy and may have low levels of self confidence. They may grow quickly than usual and may become taller than other family members. The testicles may be smaller than normal and may not produce enough of the sex hormone testosterone. This may lead to features such as: This condition can be diagnosed by: It is advisable to get treat early in order to avoid further fertility issues. Treatment options available are: A definitive diagnosis can be made only after a complete physical examination and after performing laboratory tests. Visiting an endocrinologist at the earliest would be advisable. Consult an endocrinologist online for further follow up -->