Androgen insensitivity syndrome

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Male reproductive anatomy

Testicular feminization

For complete AIS:

• 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.

• Treatment and gender assignment can be a very complex issue, and must be individualized with great care.

Infertility is expected. Otherwise, the outlook for complete AIS is good if at-risk testicular tissue is removed at the proper time. The outlook for incomplete AIS varies greatly depending on the presence and degree of ambiguous genitalia.

Complications include testicular cancer, infertility, and complex psychosocial issues.

Call your health care provider if you have any signs or symptoms suggestive of the syndrome.

Review Date: 08/11/2006
Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.