Klinefelter syndrome is a genetic problem seen in approximately one in every 500 men. This syndrome, also known as KS or XXY, has various effects on the body. One of these is infertility. However, thanks to advanced surgical methods such as micro TESE, people with Klinefelter syndrome can also have children.
Klinefelter Syndrome
Klinefelter syndrome is a common genetic condition in which a male is born with an extra X chromosome. Typically, a male has one X and one Y chromosome. People with Klinefelter syndrome may experience problems such as breast enlargement, breast cancer, osteoporosis, infertility, and learning disabilities. Treatment includes physical and emotional therapy as well as hormone replacement.
What is Klinefelter Syndrome?
Men are born with two different 46 chromosomes, X and Y, while women are born with 46 chromosomes, both X. There are a number of different conditions in which an individual may have more or less than the expected X or Y chromosomes. When a male is born with an extra X chromosome in their genetic code, it is called Klinefelter syndrome. People with KS have 47 chromosomes instead of 46. Only some of the person’s cells have the affected forms resulting from this change. Other cells may have the typical 46 XY.
What Were the Features of Klinefelter Syndrome?
Klinefelter syndrome is a congenital problem. Some tests performed during pregnancy can show whether the child has Klinefelter syndrome. However, the syndrome is usually diagnosed at an advanced age. Symptoms include the baby being born with a smaller penis than normal or not having entered puberty when they reach puberty. Many men with Klinefelter syndrome cannot be diagnosed. Many people who do not plan to have a baby in their lives do not know that they have an extra X chromosome.
Klinefelter Syndrome Treatment with Micro TESE
Azoospermia is observed in people with Klinefelter syndrome because there is no sperm production in their testicles. Klinefelter syndrome is one of the causes of azoospermia that is not due to obstruction. There are no sperm cells in the semen of azoospermia patients. However, many people with Klinefelter syndrome can have the chance to become fathers with micro TESE surgery. Since a very detailed sperm cell search is performed in the sample tissues taken during the surgery, the surgery takes a long time. Micro TESE surgeries take an average of 2 – 2.5 hours.
Can Men With Klinefelter Syndrome Have Children With Micro TESE?
IVF treatment is recommended for couples who cannot have children due to infertility problems caused by Klinefelter syndrome. Within the scope of IVF treatment, live sperm cells are directly searched in the testicular tissues with micro TESE surgery. Seminiferous tubules that may contain sperm cells are searched through a small incision made in the scrotum. The tissue that is likely to contain sperm is taken and examined under a microscope. If no sperm cells are found, different tissues are moved on and this process is repeated until a sperm cell is found. When a sperm cell is found, the incision is closed and the surgery is terminated. The sperm cells obtained in this way are fertilized with egg cells taken from the prospective mother in a laboratory environment. However, this does not mean that live sperm cells can be found in every person with Klinefelter syndrome with micro TESE surgery.
What is the Success Rate of Klinefelter Syndrome Treatment with Micro TESE?
The probability of finding sperm is quite high in micro TESE surgeries. Although there are no sperm cells in the semen of people with Klinefelter syndrome, this does not mean that there will be no live sperm in the testicles. Although the success rate varies from patient to patient, the probability of finding live sperm cells in the testicles with micro TESE surgery is generally around 60%.
What Should Patients Pay Attention to Before and After Micro TESE?
Micro TESE surgery is an extremely safe surgery. Since the procedure is performed under general anesthesia, it is necessary to strictly follow the rules given by the specialist physician before the surgery. The scrotum is one of the fastest healing areas in the body. With the advantage of the minimally invasive surgery, people can return to their daily lives in a short time. It is normal to have pain in the first few days after surgery. The pain that occurs can be easily controlled with painkillers. Patients are advised to avoid sexual intercourse, masturbation, or contact sports activities that put a load on the body for 10 days after the surgery.
