How Many People Have Hypogonadism?
First, a little background: The default sex of an embryo is female. Females have two X chromosomes (XX). Males have an X and a Y chromosome (XY). If a male sperm fertilizes an egg, then the baby will be male. However, if the sex chromosomes are damaged or the androgen hormones are inadequate to stimulate male development, then the child will be sexually ambiguous. XXY syndrome (Klinefelter Syndrome) is the major cause of primary hypogonadism in males, which occurs in 1 out of every 500 male births in the USA. It is a chromosomal abnormality affecting only boys, where one extra X chromosome is present. XYY syndrome is another cause of hypogonadism, which occurs in one out of every 1,000 live births. It is a chromosomal abnormality affecting only boys, where one extra Y chromosome is present. Both male and female children can develop hypogonadism because of Kallman’s syndrome (KS). One in 10,000 males has KS. One in 50,000 females has KS. For detailed information see www.kallmanssyndrome
