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Partial androgen insensitivity syndrome
PAIS; Androgen insensitivity syndrome - partial; Incomplete testicular feminization; Type I familial incomplete male pseudohermaphroditism; Lubs syndrome; Reifenstein syndrome; Rosewater syndrome
Partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS) is a disease that occurs in children when their body can't respond the right way to the male sex hormones (androgens). Testosterone is a male sex hormone.
This disorder is a type of androgen insensitivity syndrome .
Androgen insensitivity syndrome
Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is when a person who is genetically male (who has one X and one Y chromosome) is resistant to male hormones (ca...
Causes
In the first 2 to 3 months of pregnancy, all babies have the same genitals. As a baby grows inside the womb, male or female genitals develop depending on the pair of sex chromosomes from the parents. It also depends on the levels of androgens. In a baby with XY chromosomes, high levels of androgens are made in the testes. This baby will develop male genitals. In a baby with XX chromosomes, there are no testes and the levels of androgens are very low. This baby will develop female genitals. In PAIS, there is a change in the gene that helps the body recognize and use male hormones properly. This leads to problems with the development of the male sex organs. At birth, the baby may have ambiguous genitals , which leads to confusion over the baby's sex.
Chromosomes
Chromosomes are structures found in the center (nucleus) of cells that carry long pieces of DNA. DNA is the material that holds genes. It is the bu...
Gene
A gene is a short piece of DNA. Genes tell the body how to build specific proteins. There are about 20,000 genes in each cell of the human body. T...
Ambiguous genitals
Ambiguous genitalia is a birth defect where the outer genitals do not have the typical appearance of either a boy or a girl.
The syndrome is passed down through families (inherited). People with two X chromosomes are not affected if only one copy of the X chromosome carries the genetic mutation. Males who inherit the gene from their mothers will have the condition. There is a 50% chance that a male child of a mother with the gene will be affected. Every female child has a 50% chance of carrying the gene. Family history is important in determining risk factors of PAIS.
Symptoms
People with PAIS may have both male and female physical characteristics. These may include:
-
Abnormal male genitals, such as the urethra being on the underside of the penis, small penis, small scrotum (with a line down the middle or incompletely closed), or
undescended testicles
.
Undescended testicles
Undescended testicle occurs when one or both testicles fail to move into the scrotum before birth.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Breast development in males at time of puberty. Decreased body hair and beard, but normal pubic and armpit hair
-
Sexual dysfunction
and infertility
Sexual dysfunction
An erection problem occurs when a man cannot get or keep an erection that is firm enough for intercourse. You may not be able to get an erection at ...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article
Exams and Tests
The health care provider will perform a physical exam.
Tests may include:
- Blood tests to check levels of male and female hormones
- Genetic tests such as karyotyping to check chromosomes
- Sperm count
-
Testicular biopsy
Testicular biopsy
Testicular biopsy is surgery to remove a piece of tissue from the testicles. The tissue is examined under a microscope.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Pelvic ultrasound to check if female reproductive organs are present
Treatment
Infants with PAIS may be assigned a gender depending on the extent of genital ambiguity. However, gender assignment is a complex issue and must be considered carefully. Possible treatments for PAIS include:
- For those assigned as males, surgery may be done to reduce breasts, repair undescended testicles, or reshape the penis. They may also receive androgens to help facial hair grow and deepen the voice.
- For those assigned as females, surgery may be done to remove the testicles and reshape the genitals. The female hormone estrogen is then given during puberty.
Support Groups
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group (AISSG) -- www.aissg.org
Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) -- www.isna.org
Outlook (Prognosis)
Androgens are most important during early development in the womb. People with PAIS can have a normal lifespan and be totally healthy, but they may have difficulty conceiving a child. In the most severe cases, boys with outer female genitals or an extremely small penis may have psychological or emotional problems.
Children with PAIS and their parents may benefit from counseling and receiving care from a health care team that includes different specialists.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your provider if you, your son, or a male family member has infertility or incomplete development of male genitals. Genetic testing and counseling are recommended if PAIS is suspected.
Prevention
Prenatal testing is available. People with a family history of PAIS should consider genetic counseling.
References
Achermann JC, Hughes IA. Pediatric disorders of sex development. In: Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, Kronenberg HM, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology . 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 23.
Lin-Su, K, New MI. Ambiguous genitalia in the newborn. In: Gleason CA, Devaskar SU, eds. Avery's Diseases of the Newborn . 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:chap 92.
Review Date: 10/30/2016
Reviewed By: Anna C. Edens Hurst, MD, MS, Assistant Professor in Medical Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birminghum, AL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
