How Does Turner Syndrome Affect Women?
May 17, 2021 | Farah Jassawalla

How Does Turner Syndrome Affect Women?

Turner syndrome is a genetic abnormality found in females, and it occurs before birth. Both sexes: male and female, are born with two chromosomes. Males are born with X and Y chromosomes, while females are born with two X chromosomes. Turner syndrome occurs when the female sex receives only one X chromosome, and the other X chromosome is either totally or partially absent.

Effects of Turner Syndrome on Women’s Health

Turner syndrome has major effects on the lives of women suffering from it, some of which we will discuss below.

Infertility and Complications in Pregnancy

Most women with Turner syndrome suffer from ovarian failure or ovarian inefficiency at birth or later in life, due to which they cannot conceive. Even without an ovarian failure, their reproduction system is weak and requires assistance like fertility treatments to conceive a baby.  When women with turner syndrome get pregnant, they must be extra careful with looking after themselves as they are at a greater risk of miscarriage than an average woman.

Heart defects and High blood pressure

Most women with Turner syndrome suffer from heart defects since infancy that transition into serious complications in adulthood. One of the most common heart defects is complications with the Aorta (the vessel that provides our body with oxygen-rich blood) like Aortic dissection. Along with heart diseases, women with Turner syndrome also suffer from high blood pressure.

Vision and auditory problems

Loss of sight and hearing is a common problem faced by women with turner syndrome. It usually occurs due to the weakening of muscles in the eye and failure of nerve function in the ears. Turner syndrome patients are also more susceptible to ear infections, ultimately causing loss of hearing.

Autoimmune disorders

Autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, glutton intolerance, lactose intolerance, and diabetes, etc., are common in women suffering from Turner syndrome. Due to this, they are at a high risk of hypothyroidism and obesity.

Mental disabilities and developmental issues

Women with Turner syndrome can have learning disabilities and mental disorders like ADHD. These can develop from early childhood and in adulthood as well.

Abnormalities in bone structure

There are multiple bone issues that women with Turner syndrome are susceptible to, such as improper and delayed devolvement of bones and osteoporosis, and abnormal structure of the spine.

Diagnosis of Turner Syndrome

Turner Syndrome can be diagnosed at different stages of life as early as the prenatal stage to adulthood, depending on the symptoms. Following are the symptoms that can be an indication of Turner syndrome at various stages of life.

Pre-Natal Stage

Turner syndrome in fetuses can be identified via ultrasounds and cell-free DNA testing. If the ultrasounds show a collection of fluid at the back of the baby’s neck and problems in the development of heart and kidney, it is very much likely that the baby is suffering from Turner syndrome.

Infant stage

Certain physical features indicate turner syndrome at the infant stage, like low hanging ears, a wide neck, a high palate, a smaller jaw, a broad chest with nipples that are far apart, etc. There are also problems like heart and heart and kidney defects.

Teen and Adulthood

In teen years and adulthood, problems like delayed growth and short height, delay, or failure in hitting puberty, early menopause, fertility, and problems with conceiving are common.

Conclusion

Although Turner syndrome is an incurable disease, we can see examples of many women leading successful and healthy lives with Turner syndrome. Turner syndrome can be managed with proper medical consultation, medication, and a healthy lifestyle. Book your appointment with Shifa4U today to acquire the required medications.

Farah Jassawalla

Farah Jassawalla is a graduate of the Lahore School of Economics. She is also a writer, and healthcare enthusiast, having closely observed case studies while working with Lahore's thriving general physicians at their clinics.