Hello and welcome to the zero to finals podcast. My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be

going through androgen insensitivity syndrome. And you can find written notes on this topic at

0.0.com slash androgen insensitivity syndrome or in the gynecology section of the zero to finals

obstetrics and gynecology book. So let's get straight into it.

Androgen insensitivity syndrome is a condition where cells are unable to respond to

androgen hormones due to a lack of androgen receptors.

It's an X-linked recessive genetic condition caused by mutation in the androgen receptor

gene on the X chromosome.

Extra androgens that are not binding to the receptors are converted into estrogen,

and this results in female secondary sexual characteristics.

It was previously known as testicular feminization syndrome.

Patients with androgen insensitivity syndrome are genetically male with X, Y, sex chromosomes.

However, the absence of response to testosterone and the conversion of additional androgens into estrogen results in a female phenotype externally.

Typical male sexual characteristics do not develop, and patients have normal female external genitalia

and breast tissue. Patients have testes inside the abdomen or the inguinal canal. There is an absence

of a uterus, upper vagina, cervix, phallopian tubes and ovaries. The female internal organs do not develop

because the testes produce anti-malarian hormone, which prevents males from developing an upper

vagina, uterus, cervix and fallopian tubes. The insensitivity to androgens also results in a lack of pubic hair,

facial hair and male type muscle development. Patients tend to be slightly taller than the female

average. Patients are infertile and there is an increased risk of testicular cancer unless the testes are removed.

This section mainly covers complete androgen insensitivity syndrome.

There is a condition called partial androgen insensitivity syndrome, where the cells have a

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